Authorities: At least 10 civilians wounded in Afghan strike

Image
AP Kabul
Last Updated : Aug 30 2017 | 5:22 PM IST
At least 10 civilians were wounded in an air strike carried out by joint security forces in eastern Afghanistan today, authorities said.
Logar Province spokesman Salim Saleh said two separate military operations were underway in Logar, one in Baraki Barak district and a second in Puli Alim, the provincial capital.
"We have heard about civilians being killed, but can't confirm right now while an investigation is underway," said Saleh. He added: "As of now I can only confirm ten civilians wounded and transferred to hospital."
Gen Esmatullah Alizai, provincial police chief in Logar, also confirmed the air strike and said it was carried out by international security forces. Alizai said there were casualties among both insurgents and civilians but noted the investigation was ongoing.
Qari Yusouf Ahmadi, a Taliban spokesman, said in a statement that at least 20 civilians were killed in the air strike and that it was carried out by US forces.
Logar is one of the dangerous provinces in eastern Afghanistan, where Taliban insurgents have been more active in recent months and insurgents have launched coordinated attacks as well as used suicide bombing and roadside bomb attacks against the Afghan security forces in different parts of the province.
Also today, two suicide bombers launched a coordinated attack on a lawmaker's house in eastern Nangarhar province, killing two security guards, a provincial official said.
Attahullah Khogyani, spokesman for the provincial governor, said both suicide bombers detonated suicide vests full of explosives outside of parliamentarian Zahir Qader's house in Jalalabad, the provincial capital. One guard was wounded in the attack, he said.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but Nangarhar province is one of the most dangerous regions of Afghanistan, where both the Taliban and Islamic State group affiliates operate. It also borders neighboring Pakistan and has been the scene of heavy fighting in recent years.

Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Aug 30 2017 | 5:22 PM IST

Next Story