U.S.-led coalition airstrike kills 18 Syrian allies

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An airstrike on Tuesday in Tabqah, Syria, reportedly killed 18 Syrian fighters who were allied with the United States, the military said on Thursday.

According to a statement from the United States Central Command, which oversees combat operations in the Middle East, the strike was requested by allies who were on the ground in the area and had “identified the target location as an ISIS fighting position.”

However, the target location was instead a “fighting position” for the Syrian Democratic Forces, allies in the fight against ISIS who have been fighting alongside the United States in Syria.

“The coalition’s deepest condolences go out to the members of the S.D.F. and their families,” Central Command said, stating that the airstrike would be investigated.

This is the third time in a month that civilians or allies may have been wounded or killed by American-led airstrikes. The other two incidents, one of which occurred in a mosque complex in Syria and the second of which occurred near Mosul, Iraq, are currently being investigated as well.

As airstrikes and other campaigns against ISIS are increasing, President Donald Trump has indicated that he will take a different approach to military operations than his predecessor, Barack Obama, choosing to let the decisions in the field come mostly from the Pentagon and American commanders on the ground. While this move has been applauded by the military itself, there are some who question its effectiveness as a possible lack of sufficient oversight.