US attempts to support the Kurdish YPG in attacking ISIS territory in Syria continues, as does the civilian death toll being inflicted by continued US attacks on the populated towns and villages along the Iraqi border.

On Friday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the US-led coalition killed at least nine civilians in the strikes. Among the slain were six children, who were slain in the town of Hajin.

US officials did not comment directly on the civilian deaths, but did praise Kurdish forces for advancing deeper into ISIS-held territory. This territory includes three towns and a few adjoining villages.

Absent the US airstrikes, the Kurdish forces have lost territory in counter-attacks by ISIS. Yet the US strikes tend to kill a lot more civilians than anything else, and at best are keeping the fighting unresolved.