NATO report clears U.S. in attack that killed 33 Afghan civilians

KABUL, Afghanistan, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- An investigation led by NATO commanders cleared U.S. soldiers of any wrongdoing in a firefight with the Taliban in Afghanistan in November that led to 33 civilian deaths.

The incident also killed two U.S. soldiers and three members of the Afghan military.

The violence happened when Afghan forces, accompanied by U.S. military advisers, arrived in Boz, a village in Kunduz province, and began taking fire from Taliban fighters posted inside homes. Investigators said U.S. forces made the appropriate decision to call in air strikes after Taliban fighters began shooting at medical teams trying to evacuate the wounded.

The investigation further found that U.S. forces could have had no knowledge the homes targeted in the air raids were also occupied by civilians.

In all, 33 Afghan civilians were killed and another 27 injured.

Afghan officials called on the United States to pay reparations to the families for the the loss of human life and destroying their homes. Members of the Afghan government also have disputed the investigation's findings, saying the aerial attack lasted for hours longer than needed.

The NATO probe disputed that claim.

"U.S. air assets used the minimum amount of force required to neutralize the various threats from the civilian buildings and protect friendly forces," the report stated.

NATO commanders assured Afghan officials everything possible is being done to limit civilian casualties while also defending large swaths of the country from persistent Taliban attacks.

"I wish to assure President [Ashraf] Ghani and the people of Afghanistan that we will take all possible measures to protect Afghan civilians," Gen. John Nicholson, the commander of the U.S.-led NATO coalition, said in the statement.