Mar 28, 2017

General: "fair chance" U.S. launched Mosul strike that killed 100s

Felipe Dana / AP

Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, the commander of the United States-led international coalition against ISIS, said today that there was "a fair chance" that the U.S. had launched an airstrike in Mosul on March 17 that may have killed hundreds of Iraqi citizens, adding it was an "unintentional accident," per Defense One's Kevin Baron.

  • Estimates for death toll in the airstrike range from 80 to 511 with the likely number somewhere between 130 and 230. The Washington Post branded it "potentially one of the worst U.S.-led civilian bombings in 25 years."
  • President Trump's loosening of the rules of engagement in the region was "not really related" to the civilian deaths, according to Townsend.

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Jacob Knutson
Updated 1 hour ago - Politics & Policy

U.S. officials: Iran and Russia aim to interfere in election

Iran and Russia have obtained voter registration information that can be used to undermine confidence in the U.S. election system, Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe announced at a press conference Wednesday evening.

Why it matters: The revelation comes roughly two weeks before Election Day. Ratcliffe said Iran has sent threatening emails to Democratic voters this week in states across the U.S. and spread videos claiming that people can vote more than once.

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Axios
Updated 2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

  1. Politics: Senate Democrats block vote on McConnell's targeted COVID relief bill — McConnell urges White House not to strike stimulus deal before election.
  2. Economy: Why the stimulus delay isn't a crisis (yet).
  3. Health: New York reports most COVID cases since May — Studies show drop in coronavirus death rate — The next wave is gaining steam.
  4. Education: Schools haven't become hotspots — San Francisco public schools likely won't reopen before the end of the year.
  5. World: Spain becomes first nation in Western Europe to exceed 1 million cases.
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Rebecca Falconer
Updated 3 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Supreme Court blocks Alabama curbside voting measure

Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

The Supreme Court on Wednesday evening blocked a lower court order that would have allowed voters to cast ballots curbside at Alabama polling places on Election Day.

Whit it matters: With less than two weeks until Election Day, the justices voted 5-3 to reinstate the curbside voting ban and overturn a lower court judge's ruling designed to protect people with disabilities during the coronavirus pandemic.

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