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Afghan Civilians Killed in Airstrike by American-Led Coalition Afghan Civilians Killed in Airstrike by American-Led Coalition
(21 days later)
KABUL, Afghanistan — An airstrike by the American-led coalition killed at least four civilians, including two women, Afghan officials said Tuesday. The attack prompted a sharp rebuke from President Hamid Karzai, who has long bristled at the deaths of Afghans in military operations led by foreign forces. KABUL, Afghanistan — An airstrike by the American-led coalition killed at least four civilians, including two women, Afghan officials said Tuesday. The attack prompted a sharp rebuke from President Hamid Karzai, who has long bristled at the deaths of Afghans in military operations led by foreign forces.
The strike took place a day earlier in Shindand District, in western Afghanistan, after Taliban fighters fired rockets at an Afghan military air base that also houses coalition forces, said Abdul Qayum Noorzai, the district police chief. The insurgents escaped on a pair of motorcycles.The strike took place a day earlier in Shindand District, in western Afghanistan, after Taliban fighters fired rockets at an Afghan military air base that also houses coalition forces, said Abdul Qayum Noorzai, the district police chief. The insurgents escaped on a pair of motorcycles.
A short time later, around 7 p.m., a coalition aircraft targeted four people on two motorcycles, but those struck were civilians, not the Taliban fighters who had fired the rockets, Mr. Noorzai said.A short time later, around 7 p.m., a coalition aircraft targeted four people on two motorcycles, but those struck were civilians, not the Taliban fighters who had fired the rockets, Mr. Noorzai said.
In a statement, the coalition said that it was aware of the allegations that it had killed civilians, and that it was “working hand in hand with Afghan authorities to resolve this as quickly as possible.” It did not provide any other details.In a statement, the coalition said that it was aware of the allegations that it had killed civilians, and that it was “working hand in hand with Afghan authorities to resolve this as quickly as possible.” It did not provide any other details.
But Mr. Karzai condemned the airstrike, saying in a statement that “any type of military assault on innocent civilians or their houses is giving no value to the lives of Afghans.”But Mr. Karzai condemned the airstrike, saying in a statement that “any type of military assault on innocent civilians or their houses is giving no value to the lives of Afghans.”
American commanders have tightened the rules governing airstrikes in recent years, and the number of deaths from them has dropped significantly. But the issue remains among the most contentious in the relationship between Mr. Karzai and his American backers, and Mr. Karzai has cited killings of Afghans by coalition forces as one of his main reasons for refusing to sign a long-term security deal with the United States.American commanders have tightened the rules governing airstrikes in recent years, and the number of deaths from them has dropped significantly. But the issue remains among the most contentious in the relationship between Mr. Karzai and his American backers, and Mr. Karzai has cited killings of Afghans by coalition forces as one of his main reasons for refusing to sign a long-term security deal with the United States.
American officials have said that without the deal, they will be forced to withdraw all United States forces from Afghanistan when the NATO combat mission formally ends this year.American officials have said that without the deal, they will be forced to withdraw all United States forces from Afghanistan when the NATO combat mission formally ends this year.