FARAH CITY (Pajhwok): At least nine civilians have been killed and more than 20 others wounded in airstrikes in the Bala Baluk district of western Farah province, hospital sources said on Saturday.
Dr. Abdul Hakim Rasouli, the civil hospital director, said nine bodies and 20 injured people, including women
Obaidullah, the nursing department head, said seven girls and two boys were among the fatalities. Most of the injured were in critical condition, he added.
But Deputy Governor Mohammad Younus Rasouli said four children had been killed and five others wounded in the airstrikes. He would not say who conducted the airstrikes -- Afghan or foreign forces.
He said security forces had been engaged in an offensive over the past three days in the area. “The incident happened Friday afternoon when the Taliban used civilians as shields during a firefight,” he claimed.
Ahmad Shah, 45, who suffered wounds in Friday’s airstrikes, told Pajhwok Afghan News more than 200 families had migrated to Pushtrod district due to the ongoing offensive.
“When we reached Jar Akhund area, two helicopters arrived. W all women to disembark to show we are civilians but the copters started hitting us.” He said 12 civilians were killed and 21 others wounded in the attack.
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