Afghanistan – US airstrikes in Kunduz region of Afghanistan killed 13 people including Ten children of a same extended family on Saturday, the United Nations officially claimed on Monday.
The children and their families were displaced due to the ongoing fight of Taliban against US and Afghan military forces. The fight lasted for 30 hours in Telawka neighborhood near Kunduz where Taliban has held strong hold, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said in a preliminary report.
UNAMA headed by Richard Bennett confirmed in a statement that all 13 civilian deaths occurred due to US air strikes.
However, Sgt. Debra Richardson, spokeswoman for the NATO-led Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan, confirmed that US forces carried out the air strike, and claimed excuses that the mission aimed at preventing civilian casualties, but Taliban intentionally hid among civilians.
UN confirmed in February that a huge number of Afghan civilians were killed last year due to aerial attacks and suicide missions. However, Child casualties from air strikes have increased every year since 2014.
