Airstrike in Afghanistan causes civilian casualties

Record ID: 83685

  • Title: Airstrike in Afghanistan causes civilian casualties
  • Date: 28th October 2016
  • Summary: JALALABAD, AFGHANISTAN (OCTOBER 28, 2016) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF NANGARHAR REGIONAL HOSPITAL WHERE AIRSTRIKE VICTIMS WERE TAKEN WOUNDED BOY LYING ON HOSPITAL BED VARIOUS OF WOUNDED GIRL ON HOSPITAL BED PEOPLE WALKING PAST NEAR GENERAL SURGICAL WARD OF HOSPITAL (SOUNDBITE) (Pashto) RESIDENT OF SHERZAD DISTRICT OF NANGARHAR WHOSE FAMILY WERE WOUNDED IN THE AIRSTRIKE, SAR BELAND, SAYING: "Our house and the surrounding houses were raided, three people were killed and at least 22 others were wounded. We don't know who was carrying out the raid. All those killed and wounded were women and children." RELATIVES STANDING NEXT TO BED OF WOUNDED GIRL DOCTORS TENDING TO BOY WOUNDED BY AIRSTRIKE IN HOSPITAL
  • Embargoed: 12th November 2016 11:10
  • Keywords: Afghanistan airstrike civilian casualties civilians casualties Jalalabad
  • Location: JALALABAD, AFGHANISTAN
  • City: JALALABAD, AFGHANISTAN
  • Country: Afghanistan
  • Topics: Insurgencies
  • Reuters ID: LVA00155X4YFB
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: An airstrike in Afghanistan on Friday (October 28) hit the home of a Taliban commander in the eastern province of Nangarhar and caused several civilian casualties, government and insurgent spokesmen said.
    The strike targeted the home of Mawlawi Mohammad Alam, a Taliban commander in the Sherzad district, said Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the provincial governor, adding that there were casualties but he could not confirm numbers.
    A police official said the strike was carried out by an unmanned aircraft and killed four people inside the house.
    A dozen wounded civilians, among them seven children and five women, were taken to the local hospital, said Najibullah Kamawal, the director of provincial health services, four of them in critical condition.
    U.S. forces had carried out a strike in Sherzad on Friday in defence of "friendly forces", a spokesman for the NATO-led Resolute Support mission said in Kabul, the capital, but gave no details. Reports of civilian casualties would be investigated, he added.
    In a statement, the Taliban said American and Afghan forces had carried out a ground attack on Mohammad Alam's home, followed by an airstrike, in which two civilians were killed and more than 30 wounded.
    The United States has unleashed many raids against Islamic State and al Qaeda militants in eastern Afghanistan, most recently on Sunday, when officials said two al Qaeda leaders were killed in the neighbouring province of Kunar.
    However, new combat rules issued this year have also given U.S. commanders greater scope to attack Taliban militants, pushing up the number of airstrikes sharply.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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