KABUL has triggered an investigation, media reports said on Thursday.
While reporting the shooting, Politico said it was unclear from the footage if any Afghan civilians were wounded. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has been briefed on the probe.
According to Fox News, the video appeared to show US special operations forces engaged in combat. The part drawing scrutiny lasts about 20 seconds into the three-minute clip.
The head of US forces in the Middle East and Afghanistan slammed the video in a statement to the news channel. The video sent a “callous message” to the world, he was quoted as saying.
Gen. Joseph Votel, the US Central Command chief, said in the statement he had reviewed the video and was disappointed and also concerned at what it showed.
The Afghan people and government would believe that American service members were callous and indifferent to the horrors of war or the suffering of innocent people trapped in conflict, Votel remarked.
"I can assure you that this video does not represent the professionalism or humanity of the men and women of US Central Command. We reject the unprofessional and callous message this video conveys."
An anonymous user recently uploaded the video to YouTube under the title “Happy Few Ordnance Symphony”. The video was quickly removed.
"We are conducting an investigation into this video, and will take appropriate actions as a result of this investigation," the Central Command told Politico, which said it could not independently confirm the authenticity of the video.
In the clip, a military vehicle approaching a truck with a white cab and black cargo cabin trucks. The first vehicle was identified as a version of the M-ATV armored vehicle outfitted for special operations forces.
“As the armored vehicle comes alongside the truck, the individual lowers his military-style shotgun and appears to fire into the truck's driver-side window, causing the glass to shatter,” the magazine reported.
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