Civil defense officials admitted on Thursday that an airstrike last Friday killed dozens of civilians in Mosul. The strike may have set off explosives at the scene in Mosul al-Jadida district. The total is not yet known because the area was obliterated, and officials are still finding bodies under the rubble. At least 136 bodies have been recovered, but the total is believed by some to include another 100 or so victims. The Iraqi Defense Ministry’s War Media Cell denied the story, claiming it is Islamic State propaganda. The Iraqi government has kept the number of actual casualties a secret.
At least 316 were killed in recent violence:
The mayor of Mosul, Hussein Ali Khajem, reported that 150 civilians have been killed since Monday, but only 13 were previously reported.
Mortars killed three aid workers in Wadi Hajar.
In Wadi Akab, militants immolated three women for refusing to execute civilians.
Security forces killed 23 militants near Badush.
Fourteen militants were killed in a strike on Ras Sinjar.
