Afghanistan: 'At least 30 Afghan civilians' killed in air strike
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 28 November 2018 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Afghanistan: 'At least 30 Afghan civilians' killed in air strike, 28 November 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5c34a78013.html [accessed 9 October 2022] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
2018-11-28
An Afghan boy receives treatment at a hospital after an air strike in Helmand Province.
Afghan officials say at least 30 civilians have been killed in a U.S. air strike in the southern province of Helmand, a Taliban stronghold.
The NATO-led Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan said Afghan forces and U.S. advisers came under fire from Taliban fighters in a compound in Garmsir district on November 27 and called in an air strike, but the ground forces were not aware of any civilians in or near the compound.
Helmand Governor Mohammad Yasin Khan said Afghan troops had called in an air strike against Taliban fighters in Garmsir, causing both civilian and Taliban casualties.
Khan said 16 Taliban insurgents were killed and that an investigation was under way to determine the number of civilian casualties.
Attahullah Afghan, the head of the provincial council in Helmand, said the air strike killed at least 30 civilians, adding that it struck a house in the area.
Abdul Wadod Popul, a lawmaker from Helmand, also said there had been at least 30 civilian casualties.
The United Nations said last month that the number of civilian casualties from air strikes in the first nine months of the year was already higher than in any entire year since at least 2009.
Based on reporting by Reuters and AP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
