The Pentagon acknowledged Monday that "thousands" of civilians have been killed in the besieged Gaza Strip amid Israel's ongoing aerial bombardment and ground invasion.
"We know the numbers are in the thousands. I don't have a specific number to pass along to you," spokesperson Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder told reporters when asked about the Gaza-based Health Ministry reporting over 10,000 people have died in the month since hostilities began.
"This is a reason why it has been a point of emphasis in our discussions with the Israelis and others in the region on how important it is to get humanitarian assistance and aid into Gaza, and so we'll continue to stay focused on that, as far as the civilian casualties are in the thousands," he added.
The comments were echoed at the White House where National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby acknowledged "many, many thousands" of civilian deaths to date, but like Ryder, declined to confirm the specific casualty figures reported by Gaza's Health Ministry.
Israel launched air and ground attacks on Gaza following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7 that killed over 1,400 Israelis. At least 10,022 Palestinians, including 4,104 children and 2,641 women, have been killed during Israel's relentless bombardment, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.
Ryder further said US forces in Iraq and Syria have come under attack by drones and rockets 38 times since Oct. 17. That includes 20 attacks in Iraq, and 18 in Syria. Ryder described them as "mainly harassing attacks."
A total of 45 troops have been injured in the attacks, including 24 who were diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries and an additional 21 who suffered minor injuries.
