NATO says Afghan civilians ’accidentally’ killed and wounded in airstrike

Afghan civilians were 'accidentally' killed and wounded in an airstrike by international forces targeting a Taliban commander in the volatile southern province of Helmand, NATO admitted Saturday, giving no details of numbers.

In a statement, the coalition forces claimed that the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) called an airstrike on two vehicles believed to be carrying a Taliban leader and his associates, but later discovered they were transporting civilians.

"Afghan civilians were accidentally killed and wounded in Naw Zad district, Helmand province yesterday (Friday)," ISAF said, adding that it had launched an investigation into the incident.