GARDEZ (SW) – Locals in Paktia claim up to 10 civilians got killed in an air raid by the security forces in the Garda Serai district of the province.
The locals informed Salam Watandar that the Special Forces wanted to conduct an operation against the Taliban here, but suddenly came under assault. Two residents of the district, Babari and Gulab, said the Special Forces called for air support that responded killing 10 civilians, including children, and leaving 21 more wounded.
The spokesman for Paktia police headquarters, Naseem, has confirmed the incident, but added a fact-finding mission has been sent to the area. He confirmed three soldiers got wounded and a military vehicle got damaged in the assaults by the Taliban.
Meanwhile, the Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahed, has asserted ten soldiers got killed and five others got wounded while three military vehicles got destroyed in their offensives.
ENDS
