U.S. admits killing civilians in airstrike
WASHINGTON – A U.S. air attack on an Islamic State checkpoint in Iraq in March probably killed four civilians, possibly including a child, according to findings released Friday from a U.S. military investigation.
Investigators concluded that the checkpoint was a valid target and that the attack did not violate international laws governing armed conflict.
“All reasonable measures were taken to avoid unintended deaths of, or injuries to, noncombatants,” Central Command spokesman Col. Patrick Ryder said.
Ryder told reporters that the four civilians emerged from two vehicles parked at the checkpoint after the A-10 attack plane released its weapons. Their presence inside the vehicles had not been known, Ryder said, at the time the attack was authorized.
Outbreak of E. coli spreads to six states
NEW YORK – An outbreak of E. coli linked to Chipotle has expanded to six states.
New cases have been reported in California, New York and Ohio, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. The first cases were discovered a number of weeks ago in Oregon and Washington, and more recently in Minnesota.
The investigation to determine the specific food item linked to the illness is ongoing, the agency said.
So far, 45 people have been infected, with 43 of the victims saying they had eaten at Chipotle in the week before they got sick, the CDC said. There have been no deaths.
Late in October, Chipotle Mexican Grill closed 43 restaurants in Oregon and Washington.
Associated Press
