Over a dozen people have been killed and several others severely injured in a fresh US drone strike in the troubled northeastern part of war-weary Afghanistan, local security sources say.
The deadly strike took place in the province of Kunar near Afghanistan’s border with Pakistan on Monday.
Afghan government officials have confirmed the attack, saying those killed in the operation were Taliban militants.
Many civilians have lost their lives in US-led strikes and operations in various parts of Afghanistan over the past decade, with Afghans becoming increasingly outraged at the seemingly endless number of the deadly assaults.
Civilian casualties caused by foreign forces have been a major source of tension between Kabul and Washington. Afghan President Hamid Karzai has repeatedly questioned the legality of the US drone strikes.
The United Nations and several human rights organizations have already identified the US as the world’s number one user of “targeted killings” largely due to its drone attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but insecurity remains high in the country.
JR/AB
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