The U.S. military is investigating whether a coalition bombing that purportedly killed Syrian troops actually hit former prisoners turned into soldiers for the Syrian government, according to a report.
Investigators are determining why coalition airplanes apparently mistook Syrian forces for members of the Islamic State, a reported first for the U.S. military. At least 62 people were killed and 100 more were injured.
The theory that the victims were prisoners-turned-soldiers is one of a number of possibilities being considered.
“That is where we are right now,” one of the two defense officials told the Daily Beast on Monday. “But that could change.”
Such makeshift forces are common creations in Syria and would likely not be wearing uniforms or be in a traditional military formation, a difference that U.S. officials say should have been picked up by American intelligence before the strike.
Officials have not explained how this target was selected, nor why they believed the group of people were part of the Islamic State after two days of watching the site so close to a Syrian regime stronghold. It is not believed that anyone misled the U.S.-led coalition in its strike selection.
“We messed up,” one of the officials concluded.
