Casualties could drive wedge between Western military forces and Afghan government
NATO rockets killed 12 civilians in Afghanistan on Sunday in the midst of what’s being described as one of the biggest anti-Taliban incursions since the start of the war. “We deeply regret this tragic loss of life,” General Stanley McChrystal, the top commander in Afghanistan, said. “It’s regrettable that in the course of our joint efforts, innocent lives were lost.” Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who’s criticized NATO operations in the past after civilian deaths, has ordered an investigation into the deadly rocket attacks. About 15,000 mostly U.S. British and Afghan troops are involved in Operation Moshtarak (meaning “together”), which began in Marjah and Nad Ali before dawn on Saturday morning. The Taliban presence in the areas is estimated to number between 400 and 1,000. The operation’s American commander, Brigadier General Larry Nicholson, predicted it could take 30 days to clear out all militants and explosives.