News / Afghanistan

US airstrike kills 30 civilians in eastern Afghanistan: Witnesses

Wednesday, 30 August 2017 1:59 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 30 August 2017 2:01 PM ]

This file photo shows Afghan villagers gathering near a house destroyed in a US-led raid in Afghanistan's Logar province, south of the capital Kabul. (Via AP)

Reports coming out of Afghanistan suggest that fresh US airstrikes in the country’s eastern Logar province have killed around 30 people.

At least 28 civilians, including women and children, were killed on Wednesday morning after American aircraft bombed a house near the provincial capital of Puli Alam, eyewitnesses told Press TV.

Meanwhile, local residents told Pajhwok Afghan News that all of the victims were ordinary residents of Khost province living in the area.

“There were 28 to 32 people living in the house. Only one man of the family members who had gone somewhere else survived,” a resident was quoted as saying by the Afghan news outlet.

Salim Saleh, the governor’s spokesman, confirmed the US attack but said the exact death toll was not clear.

He also denied claims that a US fighter jet had crashed in the vicinity, adding that all American aircraft left the area after flying a number of US and NATO troops to siege the attack site.

Afghan security forces were also present at the scene, Saleh noted.

PressTV-Taliban react: Afghanistan will become US graveyard

The militants threaten to turn Afghanistan into a “graveyard” for the US following Washington’s announcement that it is continuing the occupation of the Asian country.

Taliban claimed earlier in the day the group had shot down a US aircraft, killing all of the soldiers on board.

The US military has yet to comment on the airstrike.

The attack by American forces comes on the heels of US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a longer and more aggressive military presence in Afghanistan, further pushing back a possible end to the 16-year-long occupation of the South Asian country.

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Trump unveils new strategy to prolong military presence in Afghanistan

The US invaded Afghanistan in 2001 to allegedly eradicate the Taliban and other terrorist groups operating in the country. After years of deadly clashes, however, the Taliban are seemingly stronger while the Daesh terror group has also gained a foothold in the war-torn country.

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