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CNN) -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai has ordered an investigation into reports of the deaths of 16 civilians killed while apparently being used as human shields during fighting around Kandahar.
The reports indicated that while Taliban fighters were on the run from coalition forces in the Panjwayi district, they took refuge in civilian homes, which were then bombed by coalition forces, according to a news release from the Afghanistan government.
"While expressing concern at the Coalition Forces' decision to bomb civilian areas, the president strongly condemned the terrorists' act of cowardice to hide behind civilians and use them as human shields," the release said on Tuesday
Khaleej Times Online
“Coalition forces conducted a significant operation early this morning in the Kandahar region near the village of Azizi that resulted in the unconfirmed deaths of POSSIBLY up to 80 Taleban members,” a coalition statement said.
There were 20 confirmed deaths among “active members of the Taleban network” and 60 unconfirmed fatalities in the operation, the third in the area in a week.
An elderly man, Attah Mohammad, told an AFP correspondent at the hospital that 24 members of his family, including some children, were killed in the bombing.
A doctor said security forces had not allowed ambulances into the sealed-off area to fetch the wounded.
U.S. says kills 70 militants in west Iraq clashes
US warplanes and helicopters bombed two villages near the Iraq city of Ramadi, killing an estimated 70 militants, the military said today. But witnesses said at least 39 were civilians.
Originally posted by Souljah
Interesting how you can find opposing reports:
Originally posted by skippytjc
You only look at anti USA news sources Souljah, how is it "interesting" that even one of your sources would portray this story in any other way than you report it? Its your reports that are slanted and "opposing", not CNN quoting the very president of the nation.
I think its more appropriate to say your sources are very "predictable" in thier stories, and that you are ready to post them as truth is just as predictable.
Originally posted by Dronetek
souljah: Even the afghanistan prime minister said this happened because the Taliban were using homes of civilians. What do you expect us to do, just stoping attacking them everytime they use civilians as shields? Perhaps the civilians should stop harboring them!
Originally posted by truthseeka
Human shields, eh?
Looks like the Taliban took a tip from the Israelis...
Originally posted by skippytjc
And I am certain making comments as you do, you have never seen pictures like this one showing the palestinians shooting at Israeli troops from within a crown of kids?
The reports indicated that while Taliban fighters were on the run from coalition forces in the Panjwayi district, they took refuge in civilian homes, which were then bombed by coalition forces, according to a news release from the Afghanistan government.
"While expressing concern at the Coalition Forces' decision to bomb civilian areas, the president strongly condemned the terrorists' act of cowardice to hide behind civilians and use them as human shields," the release said on Tuesday
Originally posted by Communication_Monster
For all you know, the Taliban could have forced those families to let them use their homes, would special forces just call in an Airstrike in a hostage situation in our home countries?
Originally posted by shots
If this happened here or in lets say the UK the situation would be completely different. The insurgents/terrorists would not have 1, two three or a thousand others to back them up so we could surround the building until they could capture or disable them. You are trying to compare apples to oranges here the two situations are not the same.
Originally posted by Communication_Monster
You had ought to be ashamed of yourselves, supporting this kind of action.
Wounded villagers at a hospital described how aircraft bombed mud-brick homes where Taliban rebels were hiding, having fled there from a religious school after the airstrikes started. An infant was among the wounded.
With the attack late Sunday and early Monday, as many as 286 militants, Afghan forces, coalition soldiers and civilians have been killed in the storm of violence that erupted Wednesday in the south, according to coalition and Afghan figures.
At Mirwaise Hospital in the city of Kandahar, a man with bloody clothing said insurgents had been hiding in an Islamic religious school, or madrassa, in the village since the recent fierce fighting.
Aircraft "bombed the madrassa and some of the Taliban ran from there and into people's homes. Then, those homes were bombed," said Haji Ikhlaf, 40. "I saw 35 to 40 dead Taliban and around 50 dead or wounded civilians."
Another villager, Zurmina Bibi, cradled her wounded 8-month-old. She said about 10 people were killed in her home, including three or four children.
"There were dead people everywhere," she said, crying.
Kandahar Gov. Asadullah Khalid said the airstrike killed 16 civilians and wounded 16. "These sort of accidents happen during fighting, especially when the Taliban are hiding in homes," he said. "I urge people not to give shelter to the Taliban."
Laws of War
Laws of war are intended to mitigate the evils of war by:
- Protecting both combatants and noncombatants from unnecessary suffering;
- Safeguarding certain fundamental human rights of persons who fall into the hands of the enemy, particularly prisoners of war, the wounded and sick, and civilians; and
- Facilitating the restoration of peace.
Aerial area bombardment and international law
- Article 25: The attack or bombardment of towns, villages, habitations or buildings which are not defended, is prohibited.
- Article 26: The Commander of an attacking force, before commencing a bombardment, except in the case of an assault, should do all he can to warn the authorities.
- Article 27: In sieges and bombardments all necessary steps should be taken to spare as far as possible edifices devoted to religion, art, science, and charity, hospitals, and places where the sick and wounded are collected, provided they are not used at the same time for military purposes.
Originally posted by deltaboy
Ought to be ashamed of ourselves? The soldiers and pilots did what they did, which is to kill the enemy wherever they find. It ain't our fault the enemy decided to go into peoples home in hopes of shielding themselves.
Originally posted by deltaboy
Originally posted by Communication_Monster
You had ought to be ashamed of yourselves, supporting this kind of action.
Ought to be ashamed of ourselves? The soldiers and pilots did what they did, which is to kill the enemy wherever they find. It ain't our fault the enemy decided to go into peoples home in hopes of shielding themselves. This is a lesson taught to the Taliban to not to take refuge in peoples houses or otherwise soldiers or planes will attack them they should run back into Pakistan or into the mountains.
Originally posted by truthseeka
And where did you get racism? Wow...this coming from the guy who hates Muslims.