AMERICAN-LED forces in southern Afghanistan claimed to have killed up to 80 fighters yesterday in a night-time airstrike on a Taleban stronghold as violence continued to spread in the region.However, the operation, about 30 miles from the second city of Kandahar, left dozens of civilian casualties. Local authorities said that 16 people had been killed, including women and children, and 16 had suffered serious wounds. A coalition statement said an investigation was under way into reports of civilian deaths.
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It is known as a rebel stronghold and has been the scene of fighting in recent days. It is believed that the Taleban had forced their way into villagersÂ’ homes and fired at coalition troops from rooftops.
Local anger, though, was vented on the allied attackers. Attah Mohammad, 60, said: “Oh my God, they killed my kids.” His silver beard was streaked with tears and his hands were covered in blood. “God may take revenge on them. They took everyone from me,” he said, his voice crackling with emotion.
Haji Ikhalf, 40, a villager, said Taleban fighters had taken shelter in a religious school. When the bombing started, they fled into family homes. “Then those homes were bombed. I saw 35 to 40 dead Taleban and around 50 dead or wounded civilians,” he said. Zurmina Bibi, who was caught in the fighting with her family, cradled her wounded eight-month-old baby as she said that ten people were killed in her home. “There were dead people everywhere,” she wailed.
The death toll seemed certain to rise, with many villagers unable to get to the hospital in Kandahar. Ambulances were denied access to the area. “We have taken this fight directly to the extremists who threaten the future progress of the people of Afghanistan,” said Lieutenant Colonel Paul Fitzpatrick, a coalition spokesman. “Coalition forces are aware of media reports of civilian casualties and are continuing to review assessments from ground elements in the region.”
Colonel Tom Collins, a US military spokesman, said: “It’s common that the enemy fights in close to civilians as a means to protect its own forces. We targeted a Taleban compound and we’re certain we hit the right target.”