Reports indicate over 150 civilians killed in Afghanistan during past week

Rahm said that the villagers were still digging through the rubble of the destroyed homes in search of more bodies.

In the eastern province of Kunar, US-led airstrikes killed 35 civilians, according to a Reuters report. Eleven were killed on Thursday, including nine who were relatives of a resident named Mohammad Nabi.

Another airstrike followed on Friday, killing another 25 “while they buried the bodies of those killed on Thursday,” Reuters reported.

According to the Associated Press, two NATO soldiers and two Afghan soldiers were also killed. The Afghan Ministry of Defense said that 37 insurgents had been killed in fighting, in addition to the civilians.

In response to these reports of civilian casualties, the US and NATO officials pleaded ignorance. Representing NATO, Major John Thomas said, “We’re aware of the reports of civilian casualties but none of it tracks with the information we have, which is pretty extensive. In both cases, we had good reconnaissance before and after.”