“We were stuck in the room. We had to stay. We couldn’t leave.” From the LA Times: Is Islamic State luring U.S. coalition forces into killing civilians in airstrikes?

+ “We go out of our way to always do everything humanly possible to reduce the loss of life or injury among innocent people. The same cannot be said for our adversaries and that is up to you to sort out.” Those comments from Defense Secretary Jim Mattis are very likely true. But the loose talk from the White House is making it harder for the Pentagon to convince the country and the world that there’s been no change in airstrike policies.

+ There are the political and military stories. And there’s the human story. Sometimes the latter is best told through photos. From the NYT: Engulfed in Battle, Mosul’s Civilians Run for Their Lives.