Karzai Blasts US for Deadly Air Strike

Hamid Karzai lashed out at coalition forces over a US-led air raid that he says slaugtered up to 95 Afghan civilians, including 50 children, the New York Times reports. In a statement, the Afghan President said he “strongly condemns” the attacks, and will soon roll out civilian-protection initiatives. The US military is investigating, but says it believes only 30 were killed.

Those 30 included only 5 civilians, by US estimates. This is the second time in 6 weeks that Karzai has condemned a coalition strike, as tensions grow between Kabul and Washington. “This puts us in a very difficult position,” said one Afghani official. “It provides propaganda to the Taliban and if they don’t take responsibility, it actually helps the Taliban.” (More Afghanistan stories.)