Gen. John Allen Apologizes for NATO Airstrike That Killed 18 Afghans
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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images(KABUL, Afghanistan) — Gen. John Allen, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, flew to Logar province Friday morning, to personally apologize for a NATO airstrike that killed as many as 18 civilians, including women and children, earlier this week.
The incident happened Wednesday in the province’s Baraki Barak district during an operation where Afghan and NATO forces thought they were targeting an insurgent, but instead bombed a wedding party.
After the attack, Afghan President Hamid Karzai canceled his trip to China to return home, saying the strike was unacceptable.
Earlier this year, Gen. Allen also apologized after U.S. troops inadvertently burned Qurans at a military base near Kabul.
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