Afghan civilians killed in Nato airstrike
"A number" of Afghan civilians killed in airstrike, Nato admits
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Friday, 21, Sep 2007 09:44
Nato has revealed that "a number" of Afghan civilians were killed in an airstrike earlier this week.
Without giving a death toll, a statement said that the civilians had died during an operation to clear Taliban fighter from an area in upper Gereshk Valley in Helmand province.
"Tragically, yesterday there were a number of civilian casualties as a result of the fighting," Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) said of Operation Palk Wahel in southern Afghanistan.
Nato explained that the airstrike was ordered after a gun battle lasting several hours with Taliban fighters in Zumbelay.
"Isaf was unaware of civilians in the vicinity of the target and unfortunately it appears that a number of non-combatants were caught in the attack and killed."
Wing Commander Antony McCord, Isaf regional south spokesman, added: "We very much regret any injury or death to civilians caught up in fighting between Isaf and the Taliban.
"We take every possible precaution to avoid civilian casualties while conducting our operations and we warn people in advance about operations where possible. We are now carrying out investigations into the incident."