U.S. says 2 civilians among 8 dead in Afghan strike

By Sharafuddin Sharafiyaar

HERAT, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Two civilians were among eight people killed in a U.S.-led coalition operation in western Afghanistan on Friday, the U.S. military said, the latest in a mounting toll of civilian deaths that has outraged Afghans.

The military said fighting erupted after coalition and Afghan army troops were ambushed by militants during a reconnaissance patrol in Farah province.

Troops backed by close air support killed six militants, it said in a statement. "Two civilians were killed and two wounded during the conduct of the insurgent ambush operation."

An Afghan army commander earlier told Reuters that a woman and a child were killed in the air strike by coalition planes.

The latest civilian deaths come at a time of simmering anger over such incidents which have also opened up a rift between the U.S.-led coalition and the Afghan government.

More than 500 civilians have been killed during operations by foreign and Afghan forces against the militants so far this year, according to the Afghan government and some aid groups.

In other operations, the U.S. military said on Friday that troops had killed 20 militants in southern Zabul province earlier this week. Several militants were also killed in northern Kapisa province and in Paktika in the southeast.

The Farah air strike was aimed at the house of a local Taliban commander who was among those killed, said Ghulam Farouq Niami, an Afghan army commander for the western zone.