At Least 11 Afghan Civilians Killed in American Airstrikes
The airstrikes, near Dasht e Barai, in Logar Province, came during a joint Afghan
and American military operation to pursue Taliban forces, said Salim Salih, a spokesman for the provincial governor, and it was part of President Trump’s new strategy to bolster Afghan forces combating insurgents.
United States military officials said recently that they had increased American air support
and personnel to help train Afghan security forces since President Trump announced more than a week ago his new strategy for the war in Afghanistan.
30, 2017
KABUL, Afghanistan — At least 11 civilians were killed Wednesday in American airstrikes in southeastern Afghanistan, witnesses
and officials said, the second deadly allied strike in three days to add to the country’s mounting civilian death toll.
With the Taliban deeply entrenched in Afghan villages,
and often no clear front line to the war, civilian casualties have become a recurring issue as the American-led coalition deploys more air power to help support Afghan forces trying to regain territory lost to the Taliban.
The allied forces had come under fire from the Taliban
and had called for air support, Mr. Salih said, and the Taliban fighters sought cover in nearby homes.
Bill Salvin, a spokesman for the United States military in Afghanistan, said an American helicopter had made a "precautionary landing
because of a maintenance issue" in Logar on Wednesday, but there were no casualties.