International Coalition revealed killing of 229 civilians since operations beginning

U.S Pentagon revealed the killing of 229 civilians during the International Coalition's air raids since the beginning of its operations in Iraq against the strongholds of extremists three years ago, saying that the number of civilians who have been killed by the coalition is less than what was published by other groups.   The Pentagon expressed its frustration over the killing of civilians who have been killed during the operations expressing deep sympathy with their families. It added that the victim's included four civilians killed during air raid near Mousl in September while another one was killed during targeting a store of weapons possessed by ISIS near the Iraqi city.   In the same context, leader of International Coalition, General Stephen Townsend revealed that the American presence in Iraq will continue after the elimination of ISIS from the country. He added that they will resume their presence for a long period of time in Kurdistan. He said, "Washington intends to resume its military presence in Iraq for a long period of time after the defeat of ISIS."   The relations between the U.S and Kurdistan witnessed notable improvement during the recent years in the light of American dependence on Peshmerga militias in the operations against the extremist group in both Iraq and Syria. Townsend revealed that the relations with the Kurds are not new, while they have strongly developed after the emergence of the extremist group.   On the other hand, two children have been killed by a mortar shell launched by ISIS in Wadi Al Ain of Mousl in the framework of the group's attempt to confront the advance of the extremist group to liberate the second largest city in Iraq.    Local Council of Iraq's province of Nineveh revealed new information about the massacre committed by the International Coalition in Iraq, denying the numbers published by the media channels and newspapers in this regard.   The council's member Hossam Al Abar said that the Iraqi authorities received information about the presence of ISIS elements over a building in the city, adding that the authorities ordered the coalition to bombard the building, saying that the operations led to the killing of nearly 138 persons.   He added that there are parties attempted to use the matter to achieve political gains and to suspend the current operations to liberate the Iraqi city from the grip of the extremist group. He added that the military mistakes are possible in any battle. He stressed that the operations managed to liberate over 65 percent of the city's territories.