Officials in Afghanistan are blaming a NATO airstrike for killing 10 civilians on Sunday, CBS reported.
The airstrike happened as the Taliban carried out an attack at an Afghan intelligence office, detonating car bombs and shooting at officers, resulting in the death of four soldiers and injuring at least 80 people.
The Taliban attack happened around 1 p.m. and wounded many Afghan government employees at surrounding offices according to Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the provincial governor. Soldiers guarding the compound were able to kill the militants following the explosion, including five attackers and the car bomber.
As the U.S. begins reducing the presence of their troops in Afghanistan and handing security responsibilities to Afghan soldiers, the Taliban attack, which happened just 25 miles from Kabul, raises concerns about the country's military.
Hazrat Janan of the Wardak provincial council said the explosion was powerful enough to shatter windows in several buildings across the city.
The airstrike occured in the Watapur district of Kunar,which borders with Pakistan, and is a dangerous territory. Militants allegedly work in the area, some of which are linked to Al Qaeda.
Abdul Habib Sayed Khaili, police chief of Kunar province, said the strike hit a truck carrying women and children in Qoro village, shortly after three Arab militants and three Afghan militants boarded it Saturday evening. The police chief initially reported the death toll was 15, including four women, four children, and the truck driver as fatalities. However, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said 16 people, only women and children, were dead.
NATO said in an official statement that they "take all allegations of civilian casualties seriously." 1st Lt. AnnMarie Annicelli, a NATO spokeswoman, said they launched a "precision strike" that killed "10 enemy forces" and received no reports of civilian deaths. Annicelli said the investigation is ongoing and declined to comment on whether a drone was used or not.
