Thaindian News

KABUL (BNO NEWS) — Eight Afghan civilians were killed in four separate incidents on Monday, including a NATO airstrike after civilians were mistakenly identified as insurgents, the NATO-led ISAF alliance said.

The alliance said that in one of the incidents, a joint Afghan-ISAF patrol observed individuals digging along a path in southern Afghanistan, and believed that the individuals were emplacing an improvised explosive device (IED), which have killed dozens of international troops in just the past month. The joint patrol then called for an airstrike, killing five people and injuring two.

The incident happened in the Zhari district of Kandahar province and was not related to Operation Moshtarak. When the Afghan-ISAF patrol approached the scene and determined the individuals had not been emplacing an IED, they provided immediate first aid and flew the injured to an ISAF medical facility for treatment.

NATO said it regrets the “tragic incident” and said it would launch an investigation. “We regret this tragic accident and offer our sympathies to the families of those killed and injured,” said U.S. Major General Michael Regner, the ISAF Joint Command deputy chief of staff for joint operations. “Our combined forces take every precaution to minimize civilian casualties and we will investigate this incident to determine how this happened.”

NATO said that ISAF leaders have met with village elders to discuss how to minimize future incidents, and said the families of the victims will be offered compensation according to local customs.

But three other civilians were also killed in three other incidents, which involved NATO forces. All three incidents happened in the Nad Ali district of Helmand province and were directly linked to Operation Moshtarak.

In one incident, which happened on Sunday but was not announced until Monday, two Afghan men were brought to a joint Afghan-ISAF patrol after joint forces were involved in a small-arms engagement with insurgents. The patrol provided first aid and called for a medical evacuation missed that brought the men to a nearby ISAF medical treatment facility for further care, where one of the men died of his wounds.

NATO said the two men were initially believed to be insurgents, but an initial investigation showed that the men were caught in the cross fire between insurgents and the joint force. They were wounded while inside a building that was also used by insurgents during the engagement.

In a second incident on Sunday, which also want not announced until Monday, an Afghan civilian was shot and killed by ISAF forces. The joint Afghan-ISAF unit had been involved in engagements throughout the day, according to NATO, and was conducting clearing operations when their unit was approached by an Afghan male.

Despite repeated attempts to warn him to stay clear of their position, NATO said, the man continued to approach the unit’s position. Service members shouted at the man, fired signal flares, and ultimately fired two shots at him. The man died at the scene despite medical care.

In a third and similar incident, on Monday, an ISAF unit was approached by an Afghan male. Service members attempted to divert the man away from their position by using hand and arm signals, and then fired a warning shot. Despite this, NATO says, the man began to run towards the patrol.

Fearing that the man was wearing a suicide vest, ISAF forces shot the man. He died at the scene despite first aid being provided by medical personnel.

“These incidents represent some of the most difficult situations being faced by Afghan and ISAF forces conducting Operation Mostarak,” said Colonel Steven Baker, ISAF Joint Command Combined Joint Operations Cell director. “Our forces are continuing to do everything they can to protect civilians. We regret this loss of life and offer condolences to the families involved. We will work with our Afghan partners to attempt to prevent such tragic events.”

Like in the first accident, ISAF leaders have met with village elders to discuss how to minimize future accidents and the families will be offered compensation according to local customs.

The latest incidents come only a day after an airstrike in the country’s Helmand province accidentally killed twelve civilians. NATO then fired two rockets from a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) in the Nad Ali district, targeting insurgents who were allegedly firing upon Afghan and ISAF forces. The rockets missed their intended target by approximately 300 meters, killing the civilians.

ISAF said the use of the HIMARS has been suspended until a review of the incident has been conducted.

BNO News was not able to independently verify to claims by NATO.