In past statements, Omar has asked his fighters to avoid civilian casualties. In one message in 2010, for instance, he said: “Pay attention to the life and property of the civilians so that ... your jihad activities will not become a cause for destruction of property and loss of life of people.”
The UN reported last week that civilian deaths were lower in the first six months of this year than in the first half of last year, but that summer attacks from insurgents were threatening to reverse that trend. In all, 1,145 civilians were killed between January and June of this year, the report said.
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