U.S. airstrike kills civilians

last updated 8 January 2015

Azizi, Afghanistan

A U.S. airstrike on an Afghan village killed dozens of Taliban fighters, but at least 16 civilians, including several children, were among the casualties. Coalition soldiers were mounting an assault on the village of Azizi, a Taliban stronghold, when they encountered fierce resistance from some 200 Taliban fighters. Commanders then called in the airstrike. “We hope the people will understand that the coalition goes to great effort to protect them and avoid killing or injuring Afghan citizens,” said coalition spokesman Maj. Scott Lundy. “But it’s not always possible.” President Hamid Karzai has ordered an investigation. More than 300 people were killed last week in outbreaks of fighting across Afghanistan.