— Afghan officials said Monday that at least 21 civilians were killed
in a NATO airstrike in a southern province that borders Helmand, where
thousands of coalition troops are taking part in an offensive in and
around the town of Marja.
NATO said the incident in Uruzgan province, which occurred Sunday, was under investigation. It said U.S. Army Gen.
A statement from NATO’s International Security
Assistance Force confirmed that “airborne weapons” were used against a
convoy believed to be carrying insurgents on their way to stage an
attack.
But arriving ground forces found women and children
at the scene, the military said. It did not say whether any fighters
were present as well.
NATO did not give an estimate of the number of dead, but
Interior Ministry said 21 bodies had been found and two other people
were missing. Spokesman Zemari Bashary said about a dozen other people
were hurt.
The airstrike was not related to the campaign in
Marja, but the size and scope of that offensive have already stirred
fears for civilian safety. NATO said at least 16 civilians had been
accidentally killed by Western troops in the offensive, which was in
its 10th day on Monday.
Western commanders have promised to take all
possible measures to safeguard civilian lives during the assault, and
McChrystal issued rules of engagement last summer making the safety of
noncombatants the top priority.
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