US air strikes in Syria have killed as many as 90 civilians, including children, after they were mistaken for Islamic State fighters.
According to the Daily Telegraph, eight families were hit as they tried to escape fighting in the Manjib area in north Syria. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said residents had been fleeing the village of Tokhar when they were hit. A separate opposition activist network said 90 people had died, including 11 children.
Another monitoring group, the Local Co-ordination Committees, said "vacuum missiles" had been used, an apparent reference to fuel-air explosives.
The attacks are the most deadly on civilians since Coalition forces started bombing Islamic State forces. Launched from Incirlik air base in Turkey, they are thought to be the first since it reopened after the abortive coup against Turkey's President Erdogan.
Amnesty International spokeswoman Magdalena Mughrabi said: "The bombing of al-Tukhar may have resulted in the largest loss of civilian life by coalition operations in Syria. There must be a prompt, independent and transparent investigation to determine what happened, who was responsible, and how to avoid further needless loss of civilian life. Anyone responsible for violations of international humanitarian law must be brought to justice and victims and their families should receive full reparation."
An estimated 70,000 civilians are trapped in Manbij, which is under the control of Islamic State. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad al Hussein has warned the situation there is deteriorating rapidly as opposition Syrian Democratic Forces fighters attempt to retake the city. Civilians are being killed by landmines and in ground attacks, Zeid said.
"Civilians have also reportedly been killed if they leave their homes or attempt to flee," he added. "Families are unable to access local cemeteries to bury their relatives... and are burying them in their gardens or keeping the corpses in bunkers."
Manbij is only 30 minutes from the Turkish border and is a significant strategic prize for anti-IS forces.
