Politics
20:15, 27-Jun-2017
US-led air strike in Syria kills 57 in ISIL-held prison
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At least 57 people, including 42 prisoners and 15 jihadists were killed when a US-led coalition air strike targeted a jail under ISIL control in eastern Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Tuesday.
According to the organization, the air strike took place early Monday morning, hitting the prison in the city of Mayadeen in the countryside of Syria's eastern province of Deir al-Zour.
The death toll is expected to rise as there are many critically injured people, the UK-based monitor group said, adding that about 100 people were imprisoned in the jail.
The US-led coalition has since confirmed that strikes were carried out in Mayadeen on June 25 and 26, adding that they were "meticulously planned" to reduce the risk of potential harm to non-combatants.
The US-led coalition has been active recently in striking ISIL positions in Raqqa and Deir al-Zour, as part of its resolve to support the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) group in their push to dislodge militants out of the two cities.
(With input from Xinhua)
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