International human rights organization Reprieve has accused the White House of downplaying civilian casualties from US drone strikes.
Published by the Director of National Intelligence on Friday, a review of drone operations outside of war zones claims that between 64 to 116 civilians have been killed in 473 aerial strikes since President Barack Obama took office in 2009.
The strikes were conducted by drones, traditional aircraft or cruise missiles in Libya, Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen and other African countries, the report said.
Up to 2,581 “combatants” were also reported killed in the strikes between January 20, 2009, and December 31, 2015.
The casualty figure does not reflect US air strikes in “areas of active hostilities” such as Afghanistan, Iraq or Syria.
Watchdogs have long said that the Obama administration does not have a clear picture on the civilian casualties caused by its drone program. They say as many as 1,100 civilians have lost…