KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The U.S. military said airstrikes by its attack helicopters hit two vehicles carrying insurgents Friday in eastern Afghanistan. Afghan officials said civilians were traveling in the vehicles.
1st Lt. Nathan Perry, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, said the airstrikes in Nuristan province hit militants who had earlier attacked a U.S. military base with mortars.
The helicopters identified the militants’ firing positions, tracked them down and destroyed the vehicles that were traveling in, he said.
“These were combatants. These were people who were firing on us,” Perry said. “We have no reports of noncombatant injuries.”
He gave no account of casualties in the vehicles.
Provincial governor Tamim Nuristani said, however, that civilians were traveling in the vehicles in the Waygal district of Nuristan province.
“This afternoon (Friday), two civilian vehicles were hit by airstrikes, and at least six civilians were wounded,” Nuristani said over the phone.
“Last night, the opposition fired rockets at the (U.S.) base … and today this incident happened,” said Nuristani, who was in Kabul at the time.
