Photo shows 2 Syrian children killed in US airstrike

A photo shared by activists on social media shows two Syrian children who were killed by the latest US airstrikes in the Arab country on Wednesday night.

The activists shared the photo on Friday, which shows two Syrian children covered in blood and dust, according to Reuters which said it itself received the photo.

One of the activists from Idlib province in Syria, who asked to remain anonymous, said that at least four children were killed during the air raids in the town of Harem.

The US conducted air raids on Wednesday night killing several militants in Idlib and Aleppo but also a number of Syrian civilians.

The airstrike was the second round of operation against al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front since the US began its air campaign in Syria late September.

US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki did not comment on the authenticity of the photo or if the children have been killed by US bombing.

“We of course strive to avoid civilian casualties even in this extremely complex operating environment and we recognize the inherent risk in strikes…When any accusations are made or information is brought forward, we would certainly look into that and take it seriously.”

However, even the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group which relies on its people in Syria, confirmed that the two children shown in the photo were killed by a US strike in Harem.

The US and some of its Arab allies have been carrying out airstrikes against ISIL and other militants inside Syria without any authorization from Damascus or a UN mandate.