TRIPOLI, June 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Africa Command (Africom) on Wednesday denied killing civilians during an airstrike on June 6 that targeted four Islamic State (IS) terrorists on the outskirts of the Libyan city of Bani Walid.
"In coordination with the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA), U.S. forces conducted a precision airstrike near Bani Walid, some 180 km southeast of the capital Tripoli, on June 6, killing four ISIS-Libya militants, as previously released," Africom said in a statement.
"Following reports alleging civilian casualties resulting from this operation, U.S. Africa Command performed a thorough review and determined the allegations of civilian casualties to be not credible," the statement said.
"The command complies with the law of armed conflict and takes all feasible precautions to minimize civilian casualties and other collateral damage," the statement added.
The uninhabited valley where the airstrike took place is located some 140 km south of Bani Walid, and it is an important area where the remnants of militant groups take shelter and operate.
The Libyan Foundation for Human Rights said the U.S. airstrike killed three civilians "who have no links with extremist groups."
The foundation, in coordination with the families of the victims, said it would present a request for investigation, holding the UN-backed government and the U.S. government responsible for the alleged deaths of the civilians.