Smoke and flames rise over a hill near the Syrian town of Kobani after an airstrike on Oct. 23, 2014. US military forces focused airstrikes on the area to turn back Islamic State forces.
Credit: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters
USA Today: New rules allow more civilian casualties in air war against ISIL
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has approved airstrikes that risk more civilian casualties in order to destroy Islamic State targets as part of its increasingly aggressive fight against the militant group in Iraq and Syria, according to interviews with military officials and data.
Since last fall, the Pentagon has delegated more authority to the commander of the war, Army Lt. Gen. Sean MacFarland, to approve targets when there is the risk that civilians could be killed. Previously, authority for missions with the potential to kill innocents had been made by the higher headquarters of U.S. Central Command. Seeking approval from above takes time, and targets of fleeting opportunity can be missed.
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Update: New Pentagon rules allow anti-ISIS airstrikes that could cause more civilian deaths (PRI)
WNU Editor: Why this major shift in U.S. policy now .... my guess is that the White House is not happy with the current campaign against the Islamic State, and have decided that some air-strikes are acceptable because of the targets even if this means more civilian casualties.
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