At least 50 civilians and security personnel have been killed as a result of a US airstrike and Taliban attacks in central Logar province, officials claimed on Tuesday.
Abdul Wali Wakeel, a member of the provincial council, told Pajhwok Afghan News that militants staged coordinated attacks from different directions against Azra district on Monday night.
Thirty-five security personnel and civilians were killed in a clash, he said, adding, that at least 15 policemen died in American forces’ airstrike on their check-posts.
He added the militants were closing in on the district center and fierce gun-battles were underway in different parts of Azra, sharing a border with eastern Nangarhar province.
Jamidullah Hameed, the district’s administrative chief, confirmed that Afghan security forces, civilians and Taliban suffered casualties in the ongoing clashes. However, he did not go into details.
In the meantime, Interior Ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said nine police were killed and 14 wounded in the strike.
During the overnight battle, police “called in air support but unfortunately foreign forces mistakenly bombed their positions,” Rahimi said.
Meanwhile, NATO says it is investigating the reports regarding police casualties in the US airstrike.
“We are looking into the matter further,” spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Martin O’Donnell said.
According to district governor, the Taliban also suffered heavy losses.
Meanwhile, the Taliban confirmed the attacks. Zabihullah Mujahid, the group’s spokesman, told Pajhwok the fighters were advancing. He said nothing about casualties.
50 civilians, security forces killed in Azra district
