MESOP NEWS : QUOTATIONS : By US Colonel Ryan Dillon, spokesman of the Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve
Coalition confirms use of white phosphorus in fight against ISIS – However, he did not confirm if it was used in Raqqa, or in Mosul.
ARA NEWS 11 June 2017 – On Saturday, an official spokesperson for the US-led coalition confirmed the use of white phosphorus by the coalition forces in the fight against ISIS extremists. “In accordance with the law of armed conflict, white phosphorus rounds are used for screening, obscuring, and marking in a way that fully considers the possible incidental effects on civilians and civilian structures,” the coalition spokesperson told ARA News, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“The Coalition takes all reasonable precautions to minimize the risk of incidental injury to non-combatants and damage to civilian structures,” the official said.
“However, ISIS continues its blatant disregard for innocent human life by killing civilians trying to flee the fighting and the Coalition will not stand idly by and allow civilians to die needlessly if we can help protect them,” the spokesperson told ARA News.
However, he did not confirm if it was used in Raqqa, or in Mosul.
“We do not discuss specific weapon and munition usage,” the spokesperson added.
Colonel Ryan Dillon, spokesman of the Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, and Captain Jeff Davis, Director of the Defense Press Office, also confirmed the usage on Thursday.
“The coalition won’t confirm whether or not we used white phosphorus, but we do reserve the right to use it in accordance with the law of armed conflict, for obscuration, for screening or for marking,” Col. Dillon said.