THE U.S. military command in Afghanistan said Saturday it is aware of allegations of civilian casualties after an airstrike targeted Taliban fighters in eastern Afghanistan. The strike was conducted Thursday in Khost province’s Terezayi district along the border with Pakistan, according to the U.S. military statement. “We are aware of the allegations of civilian casualties and working with local authorities to determine the veracity of these claims,” the statement said, adding that the strike targeted three Taliban fighters. American forces in Afghanistan have stepped up the air campaign against the Taliban over the past year as the two sides are discussing reopening peace talks to end the war. During a visit Thursday to U.S. service members at Bagram air base in Afghanistan, U.S. President Donald Trump asserted the Taliban is ready for a cease-fire, but Afghan and Taliban officials said informal discussions aimed at starting the peace talks were still ongoing. A local lawmaker from Khost, Janmir Zazai, said the airstrike hit a vehicle, but he was unaware of the number of people killed. (SD-Agencies) |