13 February 2017•Update: 13 February 2017
By Shadi Khan Saif
KABUL, Afghanistan
At least 18 civilians were killed in US-led coalition airstrikes in Afghanistan's restive Helmand province last week, according to the UN.
The airstrikes carried out by "international military forces" last Thursday and Friday in Helmand's Sangin district killed mostly women and children, a Sunday statement by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said.
"UNAMA’s initial enquiries suggest that the airstrikes killed at least 18 civilians, nearly all women and children. UNAMA notes that Resolute Support has initiated an investigation into the incident," it said, adding the airstrikes "reportedly targeted Anti-Government Elements".
According to the UNAMA, the people of Helmand have suffered greatly due to the armed conflict in Afghanistan, with 891 civilians killed or injured during 2016. This figure was the highest in the country in 2016 outside of Kabul.
Earlier in January, the U.S. Forces and Afghanistan announced the results of its investigation into an allegation that civilian casualties were caused by U.S. and Afghan forces during a joint military operation in Boz Village, Kunduz on Nov. 2-3, 2016.
The investigation determined "regretfully" that 33 civilians were killed and 27 wounded. To defend themselves and Afghan forces, U.S. forces returned fire in self-defense at Taliban who were using civilian houses as firing positions, U.S. Forces and Afghanistan said on Jan. 12.
Umar Zwak, spokesman for the provincial government in Helmand, told Anadolu Agency they acknowledge the latest UNAMA report.
"We do not reject it, we confirm that 18 civilians died in the two airstrikes in the Sangin district," he said.
Sangin, which twice briefly fell to the Taliban last year, has been site to deadly Taliban attacks this year. The Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) backed by the U.S. air power are still battling the surging Taliban in this part of the country.
