MAIMANA : Five civilians were claimed killed in an alleged airstrike in Khawaja Sabz Posh district of northwestern Faryab province on Wednesday, local sources and security officials said, Pajhwok News has reported.
Asadullah, an influential figure in the area, said the airstrike was conducted shortly after 2pm Wednesday in their locality. He said five civilians were killed and 14 others were injured in the airstrike. He rejected officials claim that the airstrike targeted Taliban militants.
Syed Qasem Parsa, head of the Afghan-Turk hospital, confirmed receiving two dead bodies and 13 injured people at the hospital. The injured included five men, four children, as many women link>. He said some of the injured were in critical condition.
But Mohammad Hanif, spokesman for 209thShaheen Military Corps, said a Taliban base was targeted in Wednesday airstrike in Shabakthtoe area of Khawaja Sabz Posh district.
Eight Taliban were killed and seven others, including commander Ajmal, his wife and a child were wounded in the blitz. He went on to claim a Humvee military vehicle and one machine gun were also destroyed in the airstrike.
Mualvi Ghulam Sakhi, prayer leader of a local mosque link>, described the airstrike as ‘wild’ because it targeted civilian homes.
He rejected the killing of Taliban in the airstrike and added five civilians, including his daughter, three children and an elderly man were killed and over 10 people injured.
The 209th Shaheen Military Corps spokesman also claimed the troops targeted another Taliban base in Qara Shaikhi area on Tuesday night.
He claimed 12 Taliban were killed and four others injured with the ground forces taking control of the area.