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Kunduz bombing: US troops punished over hospital attack | Kunduz bombing: US troops punished over hospital attack |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The US military has disciplined more than a dozen service members after an air strike on a Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) hospital in Afghanistan killed 42 people last year. | The US military has disciplined more than a dozen service members after an air strike on a Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) hospital in Afghanistan killed 42 people last year. |
The Pentagon has acknowledged that the clinic was targeted by mistake, but no personnel will face criminal charges. | The Pentagon has acknowledged that the clinic was targeted by mistake, but no personnel will face criminal charges. |
The Associated Press reported that the sanctions, which were not made public, were mostly administrative. | The Associated Press reported that the sanctions, which were not made public, were mostly administrative. |
Some received formal reprimands while others were suspended from duty. | Some received formal reprimands while others were suspended from duty. |
Both officers and enlisted personnel were disciplined, but no generals were punished. | Both officers and enlisted personnel were disciplined, but no generals were punished. |
A spokeswoman for MSF said the medical charity would not comment until the Pentagon made the details public. | A spokeswoman for MSF said the medical charity would not comment until the Pentagon made the details public. |
The disciplinary action was the result of a Pentagon investigation into the attack. A report on that investigation is expected to be made public next week. | The disciplinary action was the result of a Pentagon investigation into the attack. A report on that investigation is expected to be made public next week. |
In October, a US gunship fired on the hospital in the city of Kunduz. Taliban fighters had recently retaken the city after US-led forces drove them out in 2001. | In October, a US gunship fired on the hospital in the city of Kunduz. Taliban fighters had recently retaken the city after US-led forces drove them out in 2001. |
Afghan officials said the building had been taken over by Taliban fighters, but no evidence has been found to back those claims. | Afghan officials said the building had been taken over by Taliban fighters, but no evidence has been found to back those claims. |
MSF said the incident constituted "violations of the rules of war". The hospital was destroyed and MSF pulled out of Kunduz after the attack. | |
Army Gen John Campbell, the top US commander in Afghanistan at the time, called the incident a "tragic but avoidable accident caused primarily by human error". | Army Gen John Campbell, the top US commander in Afghanistan at the time, called the incident a "tragic but avoidable accident caused primarily by human error". |
US President Barack Obama apologised for the air strike, which was one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in the 15-year Afghan conflict. |
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