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Oct 8, 2008 2:16 pm US/Central
U.S. Admits More Afghan Civilians Killed In Strike
WASHINGTON (AP) ―
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Afghan men stand around two slain Afghan children, in Kabul on Sept. 1, 2008. Hundreds of Afghans took to the streets in protest at what they said was the murder of four civilians, including two baby boys, in an early morning raid by international troops.
Massoud Hossaini/Getty Images
U.S. airstrikes in Afghanistan on Aug. 22 killed 33 civilians, far more than the military had acknowledged before, the commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East said Wednesday.
Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey released a statement summarizing the findings of a Central Command investigation and asserting that despite the civilian deaths, U.S. forces involved in the attack in western Herat province had acted based on credible intelligence, in self-defense and in line with rules of engagement.
"We are deeply saddened at the loss of innocent life in Azizabad," Dempsey said.
He said the investigation found that in addition to the civilians killed in the attack on a suspected Taliban compound, 22 insurgents died. The U.S. military originally claimed that five to seven civilians had died.
The Afghan government and U.N. have said the civilian toll was 90 from the operation, which started with a ground raid by U.S. and Afghan forces.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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