At Least 11 Afghan Civilians Killed in American Airstrikes<br />The airstrikes, near Dasht e Barai, in Logar Province, came during a joint Afghan<br />and American military operation to pursue Taliban forces, said Salim Salih, a spokesman for the provincial governor, and it was part of President Trump’s new strategy to bolster Afghan forces combating insurgents.<br />United States military officials said recently that they had increased American air support<br />and personnel to help train Afghan security forces since President Trump announced more than a week ago his new strategy for the war in Afghanistan.<br />30, 2017<br />KABUL, Afghanistan — At least 11 civilians were killed Wednesday in American airstrikes in southeastern Afghanistan, witnesses<br />and officials said, the second deadly allied strike in three days to add to the country’s mounting civilian death toll.<br />With the Taliban deeply entrenched in Afghan villages,<br />and often no clear front line to the war, civilian casualties have become a recurring issue as the American-led coalition deploys more air power to help support Afghan forces trying to regain territory lost to the Taliban.<br />The allied forces had come under fire from the Taliban<br />and had called for air support, Mr. Salih said, and the Taliban fighters sought cover in nearby homes.<br />Bill Salvin, a spokesman for the United States military in Afghanistan, said an American helicopter had made a "precautionary landing<br />because of a maintenance issue" in Logar on Wednesday, but there were no casualties.
