Afghanistan airstrikes: 26 civilians killed after two US service members die fighting Taliban

The NATO airstrikes were called in to support the US and Afghan troops

(Rahmat Gul/AP)

At least 26 Afghan civilians were killed and many others injured on Thursday by NATO airstrikes called in to support US and Afghan troops who were under heavy fire from Taliban forces. Two US service members were also killed and four others were injured on the ground in the country’s northern Kunduz Province, according to US and Afghan security officials.

General Charles Cleveland, a NATO spokesman, explained that US advisers called in airstrikes to defend themselves against the Taliban forces in the area referred to as Bady Kandahari. "We take all allegations of civilian casualties very seriously," he told NBC News. "As this was an Afghan operation, we'll work with our partners to investigate."

Two senior Taliban commanders were the target of the raid and killed along with 63 other insurgents, Kunduz police chief Qasim Jangalbagh told The New York Times. He also said that 26 civilians, including family members of Taliban fighters were killed in the fight.

Ash Carter, the US secretary of defense, said he was deeply saddened to learn of casualties in the airstrikes. “The two service members killed and the four who suffered injuries were with Afghan forces as part of our train, advise and assist mission. Some of our Afghan partners also died,” he explained in a statement.

“Our service members were doing their part to help the Afghans secure their own country while protecting our homeland from those who would do us harm,” he continued. “On this difficult day, please keep their families, friends and teammates in your thoughts and prayers. We will honor their sacrifice by finishing our important mission in Afghanistan.