The United Nations say at least 23 civilians, mostly women and children, have been killed in a US airstrike in Afghanistan’s southern province of Helmand.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) noted that it is hugely concerned about the increasing rate of bombardment, particularly the nimber of children impacted by the activity. “The Mission is actively working to verify information indicating up to 10 children were killed along with eight women, and three children were injured, including an eight-year-old boy,” the UNAMA statement read.
It follows a probe on the attack on suspected Taliban targets as the US military claims to have adopted a more aggressive approach in its bid to force Taliban militants to “peace” talks.
Local residents insist that at least 30 people were killed as the result of the air strike, which was carried out amid a surge in US-led air operations.
The UN claims that in a related development, an explosive ordnance struck residential units during clashes between the Taliban militants and Afghan security forces days ago in the same Nad-e-Ali district of Helman.
Pointing to the two incidents, UNAMA expressed major concern regarding the number of children that were disproportionately affected, comprising 55 percent of the civilian casualties.
The United States appointed Zalmay Khalilzad, its former ambassador to Iraq and Afghanistan, in September to lead the reconciliation efforts with the Taliban. Khalilzad has since been traveling to the region for discussions with the national government and the Taliban to renew the peace talks.
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