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U.S. probe finds fewer Afghan deaths than U.N. claimed
A U.S. investigation into U.N. and Afghan allegations that dozens of civilians were killed during an operation in a small village found today that up to seven civilians died but that the overwhelming majority of the dead were Taliban.
An Afghan government commission concluded that 90 civilians were killed in the Aug. 22 fighting in Azizabad — a claim backed by a preliminary U.N. report. The U.S. report today said 30 to 35 of those killed were Taliban fighters.
The civilian death claims in Azizabad has caused new friction between President Hamid Karzai and his Western supporters. Karzai has long castigated Western military commanders over civilian deaths resulting from their raids.
The U.S. report said American and Afghan forces took fire from militants while approaching Azizabad. The incoming fire “justified use of well-aimed small-arms fire and close air support to defend the combined force,” the report said.
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