Pentagon press secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby. AP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has burned at least 45 people in the town of al-Baghdadi in Anbar province in Iraq, a report said.
Anbar provincial council chairman Sabah Karkhout confirmed to CNN that the tragedy happened a week after the jihadists seized the town last week.
According to the report, the besieged town is located nine miles north of the Ayn al-Asad airbase, where some 400 US military troopers are training Iraqi pilots to fight Isis.
Sought for confirmation, Pentagon spokesperson Rear Adm. John Kirby on Thursday (Philippine time) said that US military had seen images of the alleged burning by ISIS but had yet to analyze the report.
“Certainly (it) wouldn’t surprise any of us here if it turns out to be authentic and true, given the kinds of atrocities that this group continues to wage against innocent civilians. But we’re — we’re looking at it now, and just not in a position to confirm,” he said.
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