US-led airstrikes kill several Afghans

At least 56 people, including dozens of civilians, have been killed in US-led airstrikes in various parts of Afghanistan over the past days.
At least 14 civilians, including women and children, were killed in a NATO raid in the Nawzad district of Helmad Province on Saturday.
“During the airstrike, two civilian houses were targeted which killed 14 civilians and wounded six others,” the provincial government said in a statement.
Twenty civilians and 22 police officers were killed in a similar attack in Nuristan Province on Wednesday.
NATO said the victims were killed by “friendly fire.” Children are among the dead.
On Saturday, Afghan President Hamid Karzai ordered the Defense Ministry to take control of night raids — which have always been a source of friction between Kabul and the US-led foreign forces.
“President Hamid Karzai ordered the Defense Ministry to prevent foreign troops from uncoordinated and arbitrary operations and bring night raids under its control,” a government statement said.
Karzai’s administration says most civilian casualties occur during such operations.
Hundreds of civilians have been killed in US-led airstrikes and ground operations in various parts of Afghanistan over the past few months with Afghans becoming more outraged over the seemingly endless number of deadly assaults.
Civilians have been the main victims of violence in Afghanistan, particularly in the country’s troubled southern and eastern provinces, where they are killed by both militants and foreign fire.
The surge in violence comes despite the presence of 150,000 foreign troops, which are engaged in the so-called war on terrorism. The war in Afghanistan, with civilian and military casualties at record highs, has become the longest war in US history.

Source: Press TV