Protesting residents of the capital of central Logar province on Monday said four civilians, including two children, were killed in an Afghan Air Force airstrike while targeting militants.
The airstrike targeted militants in Babos and Alowzai areas of Pul-i-Alam, the provincial capital, on Sunday night, said Provincial Council chairman Hasibullah Stanikzai.
He told Pajhwok Afghan News four civilians were killed, including two children, one mosque was destroyed and some religious books damaged.
The bombardment sparked an angry protest by local residents who blocked the Kabul-Gardez highway for one hour before reopening it after the provincial council’s mediation.
Haji Gul, speaking on behalf of others, said security forces conducted the bombardment in the two areas until 2pm.
He said four people were killed; a mosque and several houses were destroyed as a result of the airstrike. “We are staging this rally to ask the government to give the perpetrators severe punishment.”
Shamsahd Delawar, the governor’s spokesman, without going into details, confirmed the airstrike and the casualties.
The Taliban also confirmed the airstrike. Zabihullah Mujahid, the group’s spokesman, wrote on his twitter account that security and foreign forces targeted civilian houses in Babos locality on Sunday night.
He claimed 14 civilians had been killed and several others wounded in the overnight attack.