NATO puts limits on Taliban raids

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KABUL, Afghanistan, June 11 (UPI) -- NATO forces in Afghanistan said they'd restrict airstrikes on Taliban targets close to local populations in an effort to cut down on civilian deaths.

A NATO airstrike targeting a senior Taliban commander in Logar province last week left 18 civilians dead.

"Given our commitment to protect Afghan civilians, restricting the use of air-delivered munitions against insurgents within civilian dwellings is a prudent and logical step in the progression in the campaign," Jamie Graybeal, a NATO spokesman in Afghanistan, said in a statement to The New York Times.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai met last weekend with top U.S. military officials and U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker to express frustration with last week's attack.

International forces in Afghanistan are looking to drawdown their forces by 2014 as Afghan forces start taking the lead in major combat operations.

Washington and Kabul signed a 10-year military commitment that outlines U.S. support for the country beyond 2014.

The Times reports the latest NATO regulations on Taliban targets don't place restrictions ground operations.