<A href="https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2022/02/03/watch_live_president_biden_speaks_about_us_attack_on_isis_in_syria.html">According to President Biden this morning</a>, the latest leader of the "Islamic State" group detonated a bomb killing his wife and family during a U.S. special forces raid near the Syria-Turkey border last night that resulted in his death. At least 13 other people died according to local sources and members of an apparently unrelated Syrian family on the lower floor of the building were injured. NPR White House correspondent Ayesha Rascoe asked during an Air Force One press gaggle on Thursday if we were going to see any evidence of that claim. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Context here is pretty important. I answered with below (which you did not include) Our focus has been providing as many confirmed details as we know at this point through many media briefings today. And of course it is a valid question and I treated it as such. <a href="https://t.co/kNvHZcM5ih">pic.twitter.com/kNvHZcM5ih</a></p>— Jen Psaki (@PressSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/1489359623081664518?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <A href="https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2022/02/03/watch_live_president_biden_speaks_about_us_attack_on_isis_in_syria.html">President Biden specifically mentioned</a> that they sent ground forces instead of blowing up the building to minimize civilian casualties. This question came on the same day that <a href="">reporters at the State Department briefing asked for evidence</a> of the administration's claim that Russia is planning to stage a false flag incident in Ukraine to justify escalating the conflict in the Donbas region. "I'm sorry you are doubting the information that is in the possession of the U.S. government," State Department spokesman Ned Price said earlier on Thursday. The evidence is derived from "means that, of course, we can't get into." "To the degree there’s loss of innocent lives, it’s caused by [the ISIS leader] and his lieutenants," the Pentagon spokesman said. White House press secretary Jen Psaki responded to the question incredulously: "Skeptical of the U.S. military's assessment when they went and took out a leader of ISIS, that they are not providing accurate information? And ISIS is providing accurate information?" "Well, not ISIS, but the U.S. has not always been straightforward about what happens with civilians, I mean that is a fact," Ayesha Roscoe replied. "I just reconfirmed and I think our national security colleague who did a briefing this morning also reiterated that the individual who was the target detonated himself, killing his entire family," said the White House. <blockquote>OTHER QUESTION: With regard to the civilian casualties in Syria, is the administration saying that they were caused entirely by the bomb detonating, or by crossfire from the one lieutenant engaging with U.S. forces? Give us some clarity on that. JEN PSAKI: Obviously these events just happened overnight. So I'm going to let the Department of Defense do a final assessment, which I'm certain they will provide additional detail on once it is finalized. AYESHA RASCOE, NPR: Jen, will there be any, like evidence or, like, release to support the idea -- I know the U.S. has put out a statement that they [ISIS leader or his associates] detonated the bomb themselves. But will the U.S. provide any evidence? Because there may be people who are skeptical of the events that took place and what happened to the civilians. JEN PSAKI: Skeptical of the U.S. military's assessment when they went and took out an ISIS terror-- a leader of ISIS, that they are not providing accurate information? And ISIS is providing accurate information? AYESHA ROSCOE: Well, not ISIS, but I mean. The U.S. has not always been straightforward about what happens with civilians, I mean that is a fact. JEN PSAKI: Well, as you know, there is an extensive process that the Department of Defense undergoes. The president made clear from the beginning at every point in this process that doing everything possible to avoid civilian casualties was his priority and his preference. I just reconfirmed and I think our national security colleague who did a briefing this morning also reiterated that the individual who was the target detonated himself, killing his entire family. Given, these events just happened less than 24 hours ago, we're going to give them time to make a final assessment and they will provide every detail they can. </blockquote>