NATO airstrike kills 10 Afghan children

A NATO airstrike in eastern Afghanistan has killed 10 children and one woman, a government spokesman said on Sunday.

The airstrike over a village in the Shigel district of Kunar province came as NATO and Afghan troops were under fire on Friday, said the provincial Governor’s spokesman Wasifullah Wasifi.

The airstrike was followed by a fierce gun battle that lasted until Saturday morning, leaving seven Taliban militants dead and five others wounded, Mr. Wasifi said.

An American adviser to the NATO troops was also killed in the weekend battle, according to Mr. Wasifi. Four other Afghan security personnel and five women were wounded in the operation, he said.

A spokesman for NATO-led International Security Assistance Force confirmed that the alliance did provide air support during the operation.

“We are aware of the civilian casualities but we can’t confirm it right now,” Dan Einerc said, adding that several insurgents were killed.

Mr. Einerc said that the airstrike was called by coalition troops, not “Afghan troops.” In February, President Karzai banned Afghan troops from requesting air support from NATO troops mainly because of civilians causalities.