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NATO airstrike 'kills 10 Afghan civilians'

Ten civilians have been killed in a NATO airstrike in eastern Afghanistan, Afghan provincial officials say.

The site of an attack on the national intelligence agency in Wardak
Ten civilians have been killed in a NATO airstrike in eastern Afghanistan, officials say (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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At least ten civilians have been killed in a NATO airstrike on a pickup truck carrying women and children in eastern Afghanistan, Afghan provincial officials say.

ISAF said 10 enemy forces had been killed in a precision strike in the Wattapur district of Kunar province on Saturday, but that they had received no reports of any civilian casualties.

Kunar Police Chief Abdul Habib Sayedkhil said the airstrike hit a pickup truck carrying the women and children as well as four armed insurgents.

"At least four women, four children and two civilian drivers were killed in a NATO airstrike in Wattapur district of Kunar province," he said.

Kunar Provincial Governor Shujaul Mulk Jalala said 12 civilians - four women, four children and four men - were killed, along with four insurgents.

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Civilians casualties in NATO operations have long been a source of tension between the Afghan government and US-led NATO troops, who are winding down operations as they prepare to withdraw by the end of next year.

President Hamid Karzai has banned his forces requesting NATO strikes during operations in residential areas.

ISAF said it was aware of the allegations and was looking into the incident.

"We can confirm Coalition Forces' conducted a precision strike yesterday... resulting in 10 enemy forces killed," it said in a statement.

"At this time, we have no reports of any civilian casualties in regards to this incident."


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