4 Afghan civilians, several militants killed in strike, US coalition says

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The US-led coalition says four Afghan civilians and "several" militants were killed in an airstrike in eastern Afghanistan. A coalition statement says that troops in Paktika province were targeting two militants leaders involved setting up attacks with explosives and helping foreign fighters. The troops were fired on and responded with airstrikes and gunfire. US military spokesman Lt. Col. Rumi Nielson-Green says the four civilians who died - three women and a boy - were all within the buildings the militants were firing from Tuesday. She calls it "tragic" that the civilians died but blamed the militants for putting them in harm's way. Nielson-Green says several militants were killed and that 12 were detained.