US Opens Probe in Deadly Afghan Strike

(NEWSER) - The US military is tightening its rules regarding airstrikes in Afghanistan, in the face of mounting civilian casualties, the New York Times reports. Airstrikes will now be used mostly to prevent coalition forces from being overrun, new Afghan commander Stanley McChrystal announced. “Air power contains the seeds of our own destruction if we do not use it responsibly,” he told senior officers last week. “We can lose this fight.” More»

Investigation finds civilian deaths could have been reduced

(NEWSER) - The American military could have reduced the number of civilian causalities during its controversial Afghanistan air strikes last month if it had followed proper procedures, a military investigation has found. Personnel made serious errors in the bloody May 4 raids, including the failure of one plane to reconfirm a target after being required to circle back, the New York Times reports. More»

Total toll said to be 140, but US disputes claim

(NEWSER) - Ninety-five children are among the 140 people said to have died in US airstrikes last week aimed at the Taliban in western Afghanistan, according to a list compiled by Afghan officials. If the toll is correct, the AP reports, it marks the highest number of civilian deaths since 2001. The US disputes the claim, saying “there is no physical proof that can substantiate” the figures. More»

Villagers deliver bodies to provincial capital as proof

(NEWSER) - Afghan villagers bore the bodies of 30 civilian victims of a US-led airstrike to a provincial council as proof of the coalition operation’s deadly price, provincial officials reported to the AP today. When fighting broke out yesterday between militants and coalition forces in Farah province, villagers herded their women, children, and elderly into compounds away from the fighting. But an airstrike targeted those compounds, perhaps suspecting they held enemy reinforcements. More»

President Karzai angry; military investigating incident

(NEWSER) - A US air strike killed 40 civilians at a wedding party Monday, the Afghan government said today. The US said it was investigating the incident, but would not verify any attack or death toll, the New York Times reports. A Kandahar province official said US forces were fighting with the Taliban in the area, and called in air support, which mistakenly targeted the wedding. More»