The Kurdish YPG’s attempt to take the last of ISIS-held towns and villages in eastern Syria has focused heavily on getting civilians out of those areas, as not to worry about casualties. What happens to those civilians when they flee the village of Baghouz, however, is a problem of its own.



According to Syrian officials, the US-led coalition attacked a camp for internally displaced persons who had fled from Baghouz. Scores of civilians, including women and children, were reported slain, and many more wounded.



It is not clear why the camp was targeted, and the US has not commented on the matter. Local officials say the toll is expected to rise further, as many of the wounded are in critical condition, and have little to no access to medical care in this remote, war-torn part of Syria.



US airstrikes have been killing growing numbers of civilians in and around these “last” ISIS-held towns, and while the heavy US air support has been key to keeping ISIS on the defensive, the civilian casualties are likely to breed resentment among those left in the area.

Author: Jason Ditz Jason Ditz is news editor of Antiwar.com. View all posts by Jason Ditz