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Malcolm Turnbull says Australia involved in mistaken bombing of Syrian troops Malcolm Turnbull says Australia involved in mistaken bombing of Syrian troops
(about 4 hours later)
Malcolm Turnbull has acknowledged Australian aircraft were involved in US-led airstrikes in eastern Syria that mistakenly killed Syrian army troops but has blasted Russian for politicising the error.Malcolm Turnbull has acknowledged Australian aircraft were involved in US-led airstrikes in eastern Syria that mistakenly killed Syrian army troops but has blasted Russian for politicising the error.
According to Russia’s military the airstrike, reported on Sunday, killed at least 62 soldiers near Deir ez-Zour, with more than 100 wounded.According to Russia’s military the airstrike, reported on Sunday, killed at least 62 soldiers near Deir ez-Zour, with more than 100 wounded.
The Australian defence department has explained coalition aircraft were conducting airstrikes in eastern Syria against what was believed to be a Islamic State fighting position that the coalition had been tracking for some time.The Australian defence department has explained coalition aircraft were conducting airstrikes in eastern Syria against what was believed to be a Islamic State fighting position that the coalition had been tracking for some time.
At a doorstop on Sunday in New York, Turnbull confirmed Australian aircraft were involved in the sortie. “As soon as the coalition commanders were advised by the Russian command in the region that Syrian forces had been affected, the sortie was discontinued,” he said.At a doorstop on Sunday in New York, Turnbull confirmed Australian aircraft were involved in the sortie. “As soon as the coalition commanders were advised by the Russian command in the region that Syrian forces had been affected, the sortie was discontinued,” he said.
“We regret the loss of life, and injury to any Syrian personnel affected. That is all I can say about the incident at the moment.”“We regret the loss of life, and injury to any Syrian personnel affected. That is all I can say about the incident at the moment.”
The airstrikes were the first on Aleppo since the ceasefire began on Monday evening, causing Russia to warn there is a “very big question mark” over the precarious ceasefire.The airstrikes were the first on Aleppo since the ceasefire began on Monday evening, causing Russia to warn there is a “very big question mark” over the precarious ceasefire.
Asked about whether it was hypocritical of Russia to raise the matter in the UN Security Council given it had “deliberately bombed hospitals in Aleppo”, Turnbull said “those contradictions are obvious”.Asked about whether it was hypocritical of Russia to raise the matter in the UN Security Council given it had “deliberately bombed hospitals in Aleppo”, Turnbull said “those contradictions are obvious”.
“You can point out those contradictions, there is obviously a lot of politics involved in this.”“You can point out those contradictions, there is obviously a lot of politics involved in this.”
Turnbull said he had discussed the Syrian ceasefire with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, a few weeks ago and the countries were “seeking to achieve a lasting peace” rather than make political points.Turnbull said he had discussed the Syrian ceasefire with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, a few weeks ago and the countries were “seeking to achieve a lasting peace” rather than make political points.
The Australian prime minister said it remained to be seen whether the airstrikes would put the ceasefire in jeopardy.The Australian prime minister said it remained to be seen whether the airstrikes would put the ceasefire in jeopardy.
“It is a very, very complex operating environment. As you know there is such a wide range of groups operating there, our rules of engagement are focused on Daesh.“It is a very, very complex operating environment. As you know there is such a wide range of groups operating there, our rules of engagement are focused on Daesh.
“But there are a number of other groups involved, not least of which of course are the Syrian government forces.”“But there are a number of other groups involved, not least of which of course are the Syrian government forces.”
Asked about Russia’s call for greater coordination between it and the US-led coalition on airstrikes, Turnbull said: “Clearly coordination is desirable … I don’t think anyone would argue with that.”Asked about Russia’s call for greater coordination between it and the US-led coalition on airstrikes, Turnbull said: “Clearly coordination is desirable … I don’t think anyone would argue with that.”
He refused to engage in “speculation” about “why there wasn’t more coordination, or who was meant to be advising whom”.He refused to engage in “speculation” about “why there wasn’t more coordination, or who was meant to be advising whom”.
The independent MP Andrew Wilkie, a former army officer and intelligence analyst, said in a statement on Sunday that reports of Australian involvement were a “terrible tragedy if true”.The independent MP Andrew Wilkie, a former army officer and intelligence analyst, said in a statement on Sunday that reports of Australian involvement were a “terrible tragedy if true”.
“It might have been incompetence,” he said. “But even the best military [personnel] can’t avoid accidents when fighting in such a complex environment including the US-led coalition, Russian military, the Syrian and Iraqi militaries as well as Islamic State and countless other actors.”“It might have been incompetence,” he said. “But even the best military [personnel] can’t avoid accidents when fighting in such a complex environment including the US-led coalition, Russian military, the Syrian and Iraqi militaries as well as Islamic State and countless other actors.”
Wilkie – an outspoken critic of the Iraq war who has called for an inquiry into Australia’s involvement in the war – said the incident showed “Australia should not have helped invade, occupy or have stayed in the Middle East”.Wilkie – an outspoken critic of the Iraq war who has called for an inquiry into Australia’s involvement in the war – said the incident showed “Australia should not have helped invade, occupy or have stayed in the Middle East”.
The US and its coalition allies will investigate the military error, but the leader of an influential Australian minor party, Nick Xenophon, has called for an independent inquiry into it.
Xenophon said an inquiry by someone “outside defence, outside the US military” was needed because “the consequences of not learning from these mistakes could be quite catastrophic”.
Australian defence minister, Marise Payne, told the ABC’s AM on Monday that the coalition aircraft “were conducting airstrikes ... against what was believed to be a Daesh fighting position that they had been tracking for some time”.Australian defence minister, Marise Payne, told the ABC’s AM on Monday that the coalition aircraft “were conducting airstrikes ... against what was believed to be a Daesh fighting position that they had been tracking for some time”.
“It remains to be seen what led to this particular outcome,” she said, adding it was premature to discuss what had happened before a coalition review. “It remains to be seen what led to this particular outcome,” she said, adding it was premature to discuss what had happened before the coalition review.
“Australia would never intentionally, knowingly target a known Syrian military unit or in any way shape or form actively support Daesh.”“Australia would never intentionally, knowingly target a known Syrian military unit or in any way shape or form actively support Daesh.”
Payne said recent legal changes to allow Australia to target Daesh combat support forces had no bearing on the strikes, because the strikes were against what was believed to be a Daesh fighting position.Payne said recent legal changes to allow Australia to target Daesh combat support forces had no bearing on the strikes, because the strikes were against what was believed to be a Daesh fighting position.