30 civilians killed in Kunduz air strikes

Two American service members were killed on Thursday fighting the Taliban near the northern Afghan city of Kunduz, and more than 30 civilians were killed in air strikes called in to protect Afghan and U.S. troops, officials said.

Afghan officials said there was heavy fighting overnight in the village of Buz Kandahari, about 5 km (3 miles) from the centre of Kunduz which Taliban fighters succeeded in entering as recently as last month.

The U.S. military said the troops had come under attack while working with Afghan partners to clear a Taliban position there and disrupt the group’s operations in the district around the city. “As part of an Afghan operation, friendly forces received direct fire and air strikes were conducted to defend themselves,” said Brigadier General Charles Cleveland, of the NATO-led Resolute Support mission.

“We take all allegations of civilian casualties very seriously.”

In a statement, the Taliban said American forces were involved in a raid to capture three militant fighters when they came under heavy fire. An air strike hit the village where the fighting was taking place, killing many civilians.