World | Afghanistan
Afghan, US investigation finds civilians killed in US airstrike
A US-led airstrike last week killed 37 civilians and wounded 35 more, an Afghan and US military investigation determined.
- Agencies
- Published: 12:34 November 9, 2008
Kabul: A US-led airstrike last week killed 37 civilians and wounded 35 more, a joint Afghan and US military investigation determined.
The airstrike occurred after Taliban militants launched an ambush from the cover of a village, the US military said.
Last week, Afghan President Hamid Karzai called on US President-elect Barack Obama to make stopping the death of innocents his top priority.
Mistaken US airstrikes this year have killed at least 150 Afghan civilians, undermining public support for the continued presence of more than 60,000 Nato-led and US coalition troops in Afghanistan.
Insurgents stormed the village of Wech Baghtu in southern Afghanistan and fired on coalition forces, villagers told investigators.
The US military expressed regret for the strike.
"We regret this tragic loss of innocent lives and express our condolences to the families and to the people of Afghanistan," Colonel Greg Julian, a spokesman for the US military, said in the statement.
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