Reported Readiness of US to Inflict Civilian Casualties 'Chilling'

The United for Peace and Justice coalition said that reports that US military commanders were ready to inflict scores of civilian deaths or injuries in a precision strike on Daesh offices in Mosul are chilling.

Reports that US military commanders were ready to inflict scores of civilian deaths or injuries in a precision strike on Daesh offices in Mosul are chilling, the United for Peace and Justice (UPJ) coalition told Sputnik.

"The assertion that US commanders had been willing to consider up to 50 civilian casualties from the airstrike due to the importance of the target is chilling, and raises questions about the applicability of International Humanitarian Law," UPJ told Sputnik on Tuesday.

UPJ represents a coalition of 1,400 peace organizations in the United States and around the world.

"What is the monetary value of a human life?… we do not believe that accelerated air-strikes, increased weapons deliveries or expanded ‘boots on the ground’ are a practical or moral answer to the problem of international terrorism," the group said.

On Sunday, US aircraft dropped 2,000 pound bombs on a building containing Islamic State cash reserves, according to US media reports.

According to a CNN report, US commanders had been willing to consider up to 50 civilian casualties in the Mosul airstrike due to the importance of the target. But the initial post-attack assessment indicated that perhaps five to seven individuals were killed.