Pentagon review of the 2019 Baghuz strike reports no law-of-war violation and reporting failures

Date: 2022-05-17
Entry type: military inquiry
Current status: Review completed under the subsequent administration; underlying strike occurred in 2019

Entities and roles

factdocumented
Trump's June 11, 2019 War Powers report described continuing US operations against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The review concerns an operation during that campaign, not an inquiry ordered by Trump or proof of his personal target selection.
- White House: Consolidated War Powers report, June 11, 2019Iraq and Syria
factdocumented
The Pentagon's 2022 review of the March 18, 2019 Baghuz strike found no violation of the rules of engagement or law of war. It identified reporting deficiencies and delays but found no malicious or wrongful intent behind those delays.
- US Department of Defense: Executive Summary: Independent Review of 18 March 2019 Civilian Casualty Incident in Baghuz, SyriaExecutive summary, findings and recommendations

Baghuz independent military review1 inquiry
Basis
Observed
Population
The independent review of the March 18, 2019 Baghuz strike
Period
2021-11-29 to 2022-05-17
As of
2022-05-17
Method
Count the completed independent review once. Its publication is not a second inquiry.
Uncertainty
Administrative military review, not a criminal charge. Review occurred under Biden and concerns a Trump-era operation; the complete report was not publicly released.