Azizabad airstrike
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The
Azizabad airstrike was carried out by the
United States Air Force on Friday 22 August 2008 in the village of
Azizabad which is located in
Shindand district,
Herat Province,
Afghanistan.
The airstrike killed an estimated 78 to 92 civilians, mostly children,
and a number of structures in the village including homes were damaged
or destroyed, although there remains some dispute about the accuracy of
these figures. A
Taliban commander was the intended target of
airstrike.
the
Summary of events
American
officials stated that Afghan soldiers were ambushed while in pursuit of
a Taliban commander named Mullah Siddiq, and further stated that the
Taliban attackers then fled to Azizabad.
[1]
The retaliatory airstrike killed approximately 90 people and destroyed
eight homes, according to accounts from the American troops, aid
workers, local villagers, and a report made by the Afghanistan
government. This was later confirmed by the
United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) which also undertook an investigation.
[2] The attack was carried out at night through by a US
AC-130 ground attack aircraft, called in by US Special Forces.
[1]
Reaction
Azizabad residents
The
day after the attack, Saturday 23 August 2008, villagers organised a
demonstration against Afghan troops which had been deployed to Azizabad
to distribute food and other assistance. Several people were injured
during a confrontation between villagers and army personnel.
[3]
Government of Afghanistan
The President of Afghanistan,
Hamid Karzai, described the attack as "tragic" and "irresponsible". Karzai dismissed two senior Afghan military personnel, a
general and a
major, for "negligence and concealing facts".
[4]
After a cabinet meeting the government announced that it would seek to
renegotiate the terms of the international presence in the country. Some
analysts suggested that this announcement was a direct response to the
Azizabad event. A government statement called for an end to "airstrikes
on civilian targets, unilateral searches of homes and illegal
detentions" by international forces.
[5]
In February 2009, a primary court in Herat sentenced Mohammad Nader
to death for giving "wrong information" to coalition forces which
resulted in the Azizabad airstrike. The presiding judge, Qazi Mukaram,
told Nader that, "You, Mohammad Nader, are sentenced to capital
punishment for spying for foreign forces and giving wrong information
that caused the death of civilians." Nader denied the charges, saying,
"My information was accurate and I did it for the well-being and
security of my village."
[6]
Government of United States
The Pentagon
described the attack as "a legitimate strike against the Taliban" and
questioned the casualty estimates given by the government of Afghanistan
and reported by the media.
[7]
The US military originally denied that any civilian casualties had
occurred, but later acknowledged that some civilians may have been
killed and announced its intention to conduct an investigation.
[8] Preliminary findings of the investigation acknowledged that five civilians had been killed.
[9]
On 2 September 2008, a further report was announced in which the US
stated that up to seven civilians had been killed and reasserted that
the majority of those killed were members of the Taliban.
[10]
On 1 October 2008 the Department of Defense published the summary of a
report by Brig. Gen. Michael Callan which accepted that 33 civilians
were killed.
United Nations
In a
statement
on the attack, the United Nations reports that "An investigation by the
United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has found that
some 90 civilians, including 60 children, were among those killed
during military operations in the strife-torn nation’s western Herat
province last week." The investigation found "'convincing evidence,
based on the testimony of eyewitnesses, and others,' that some 90
civilians were killed – including 60 children, 15 women and 15 men – and
another 15 villagers wounded."
Other international reaction
Russia circulated a draft
United Nations Security Council
statement on Tuesday 26 August which expressed serious concern about
the numerous civilian casualties reportedly caused by the airstrike. It
stated that member nations "strongly deplore the fact that this is not
the first incident of this kind."
[11]
Video emerges that show more than 40 bodies
On 8 September 2008, a video recorded on a
mobile phone
emerged, showing around 40 bodies. Following the emergence of this new
evidence, the United States announced the need for an independent
enquiry into the matter.
[12] An Afghan government commission stated that 90 civilians, including 60 children and 15 women, died in the bombing.
[13] General
David D. McKiernan,
the senior U.S. officer in Afghanistan and NATO commander, said in a
statement "In light of emerging evidence pertaining to civilian
casualties in the August 22 counter-insurgency operation in the Shindand
District, Herat province, I feel it is prudent to request that U.S.
Central Command send a general officer to review the U.S. investigation
and its findings with respect to this new evidence".
[13]
Possible deaths of coalition contractors
The
New York Times reported on October 7, 2010, that eight coalition
security contractors were killed in the attack. The contractors were
alleged to be headed by a 'Mr. White II' whose men included former
Taliban fighters.
[14]
See also
References
Cogan, J. 2008, 'US air strike massacres civilians in western Afghanistan', World Socialist Web Site, 26 August. Retrieved on 26 August 2008.
UN says air strikes killed 90 Afghans Archived September 2, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. - FT.com, 26 August 2008
Straziuso, J. and Faiez, R. 2008, 'Rights group: 78 Afghans killed; US to investigate', The Associated Press, 24 August. Retrieved on 26 August 2008.
Gulf Daily News 2008, 'Top army generals sacked', Gulf Daily News, 25 August 2008. Retrieved on 26 August 2008.
BBC 2008, 'Afghan bombing drives allies apart', BBC News, 27 August. Retrieved on 29 August 2008
Meo, Nick, Afghan villager sentenced to death for 'wrong information' which caused bombing tragedy, The Sunday Telegraph, March 1, 2009.
AFP 2008, 'Afghanistan attack was 'legitimate' hit at Taliban: Pentagon'[permanent dead link], Yahoo News, 25 August. Retrieved on 26 August 2008.
BBC 2008, 'Afghans demand new troops deal', BBC News, 25 August. Retrieved on 26 August 2008.
AFP 2008, 'US-led force says 5 Afghan civilians killed in strikes', ABC News, 26 August. Retrieved on 27 August 2008.
Straziuso, J. 2008, 'US probe finds fewer deaths than UN claimed', Associated Press, 3 September. Retrieved on 3 September 2008. Archived September 3, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
U.N. accuses U.S.-led troops in Afghan deaths Archived 2011-09-27 at the Wayback Machine. - Times Argus, 27 August 2008
Cellphone Video of Afghan Casualties on YouTube - New York Times, September 9, 2008
"US re-examines Afghan civilian deaths from attack". KansaCity.com. Associated Press. September 9, 2008. Archived from the original on September 9, 2008.
External links
No'oroa Ariki and his wife, King John and his wife, with Richard Seddon
