At least 30 civilians and 2 US soldiers were killed during an operation in northern Kunduz province as reports suggest the civilians were killed in airstrikes called to protect the Afghan and US forces.
Provincial governor’s spokesman Syed Mahmood Danish said the Afghan special forces were trapped near Pul-e-Alchin area and several people were killed or wounded as additional forces were deployed to end the siege.
He said at least 30 civilians were killed and around 25 others were wounded during the operations conducted in a residential area as the Taliban militants had taken shelter among the civilians.
The provincial governor Asadullah Amarkhail also confirmed that 30 civilians including women and children were killed during the operation.
In the meantime, the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission (RSM) confirmed the US forces conducted airstrikes to defend the friendly forces and vowed to investigate the civilian casualty claims.
“To clarify, US forces conducted strikes in #Kunduz to defend friendly forces. All civilian casualty claims will be investigated,” the alliance said in a Twitter post as the reports of civilian deaths in US airstrikes sparked furor among the local residents.
At least 2 US soldiers also lost their lives during the operation with the US Forces in Afghanistan saying the two service members succumbed to their injuries sustained during the operation.
