U.S. general says hospital in Afghanistan was ‘mistakenly struck’

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Top U.S. general in Afghanistan: Hospital was ‘mistakenly struck’ - Gen. John F. Campbell,  your  commander  of  U.S.  ALONG WITH  allied forces  with  Afghanistan, told lawmakers  on  Tuesday  that the  American air attack  The item  killed  at the very least  22  a person   at   a great  hospital  with  northern Afghanistan were not  supposed to  hit medical  a worker   or  patients.

“A hospital  was  mistakenly struck,” Campbell said  with  testimony  earlier   ones  Senate Armed  providers  Committee. “We would never intentionally target  a   secure  medical facility.”

To prevent similar incidents  for the  future, Campbell said his forces would undergo “in-depth training”  to be able to  review rules  associated with  engagement governing  the actual  mission  inside  Afghanistan.

Campbell said  an  full accounting  of your  weekend incident,  in which  occurred  Just as  U.S. forces sought  in order to   help   a great  Afghan government attempt  to  reclaim  The town   connected with  Kunduz,  your current   very first   greatest  Afghan city  to be able to  fall  towards  Taliban  considering that the  war began  within  2001, would  possibly be   shown   immediately after   the  Pentagon investigation. He declined  for you to   supply   an  timeline  with the  probe.

Speaking  a good   night out  earlier, Campbell said  the  attack,  of which  took  place  under confused  Disorders   on the  middle  of an  night Saturday,  am   helped   after  Afghan troops  requested  air  help   from  American forces.  This  contradicted  before  statements  via  Pentagon officials  that this  strike  \'m   purchased   to be able to  protect U.S. forces  towards  ground.

The evolving  account   regarding  what exactly happened  features  heightened  your own  controversy  with the  strike,  which  relief group Doctors  without  Borders  possesses  labelled  ones  incident  a  deliberate attack  AND ALSO   the  possible war crime. Twelve  of any  group’s  a staff  were killed  for the  attack.

The weekend’s disastrous airstrike reinforces doubts  exactly about  how  correctly   a  limited U.S.  Force   inside  Afghanistan  will certainly   USE  Afghan troops  to be able to  repel  the  Taliban,  that will   has become  newly emboldened  Just as   your   US  draws  along   its  presence.

The strike  likewise  comes  Equally   your own  Obama administration  can be  weighing  whether   to help  keep  In the same way   several   Just like  5,000 U.S. troops  throughout  Afghanistan beyond 2015. Obama  possesses  not  made   the  final decision  to the  proposal, but  ones  recent advances  through the  Taliban have  absolutely  complicated  your current  president’s calculus.

On Monday, Campbell told reporters  for the  Pentagon  The idea  Afghan forces “advised  That  they were  shipping  fire  via  enemy positions  IN ADDITION TO   questioned   with regard to  air  support   by  U.S. forces.” Campbell  achieved it  clear  which the  differed  from   first   reports   The item  said U.S. forces were under attack  AND ALSO  called  with the  airstrikes  intended for   it\'s  defense.

Campbell’s remarks differed  by   a couple of   earlier  comments,  such as   single   created   via  Secretary  connected with  Defense Ashton B. Carter  on  Sunday  It  said U.S. forces were under attack.

“At  a few  point  while in   ones  events there [they] did  report   The item  they, themselves, were coming under attack.  It  much  my spouse and i  think  we   will probably  safely say,” Carter told reporters Sunday.  

Abdul Qahar Aram, spokesman  for the  Afghan army’s 209th Corps  throughout  northern Afghanistan, said he  could  not comment  for the   details about  Saturday’s hospital bombing. But Aram said there  feel   an  “strong possibility”  It  Afghan forces had  requested  it.

One aspect  of the  strike  The idea  remained unclear Monday  feel   The actual  role played  via  U.S. forces accompanying  ones  Afghans  This  night.

After Kunduz  are  overrun  with  Taliban fighters late last month, American Special Operations forces were ferried  in  shore up Afghan forces  It  were  making  little headway  with the  fight  in order to  retake  the  populated city center. Together,  your own  U.S.  IN ADDITION TO  Afghan forces  continues to be   able to  retake nearly  each of the  city.

These “train, advise  AS WELL AS  assist” missions  usually are   an  staple  connected with  U.S. Special Forces  attributes   IN ADDITION TO   has been  conducted extensively  within  recent years.  with  combat situations, rather  in comparison with  return fire, U.S. troops  from   these types of  missions  usually are   more  likely  for you to   right  communication, casualty evacuation  ALONG WITH   direct  air  help   by   an  AC-130,  regarding  instance,  if   This is  available.

As  a  result, there  have been  little  right  contact between U.S. troops  and also the  Taliban  since the   almost all  U.S. forces were relegated  towards  sidelines  While   established  combat operations ended last year.

The aircraft  It   accomplished   ones  weekend attack  feel   a great  AC-130 gunship,  In accordance with  Campbell. Unlike jets,  your  AC-130  is really a  unique aircraft dedicated almost entirely  to help  supporting Special Operations forces.

In order  to make certain  targeting  AND ALSO  communication  because of the  ground  for the  aircraft  is actually   Just as  seamless  Just like  possible, every AC-130 flies  that has a  liaison officer  exactly who   features  spent  time frame   like a  Special Forces soldier  to the  ground.

While  many  jets streak across  a  target,  moving   easily   though  dropping bombs  or even  firing cannons  or  machine guns,  your  AC-130 essentially loiters  in excess of   a  target  at   of about  7,000 feet, flying  throughout   a  circle  AS WELL AS  firing  coming from  weapons ports mounted  for the  aircraft’s left side.

Unlike  various other  military fixed-wing aircraft,  a good  AC-130  can be   inquired  differently.  while   a good  jet requires  the  map coordinate  to be able to  engage  the  target,  your current  AC-130 relies  in  direction (a compass heading)  AND   a good  distance  to the  enemy target  with the  friendly forces engaged  for the  ground.  with  short,  The idea  relies  in   aesthetic  targeting.

This difference  might  explain why  the  hospital  are  targeted  even though  Doctors  with out  Borders said  The idea  had  released  U.S.  ALONG WITH  Afghan forces  it\'s  map coordinates before.

“It’s  the   visual  acuity aircraft,” said  a good  U.S. close-air  support  pilot  exactly who  spoke  to the  condition  connected with  anonymity  because the   associated with  his active-duty status. “An AC-130 finds  ones  friendly force,  then  fires  over   its  left  or maybe   proper  shoulder.”

The pilot went  on   add   That   an  AC-130 does not enter enemy airspace  AS WELL AS   go shopping   with regard to  targets.  The item   right   has   to be able to   be  guided  on to   your current  target  through   a great   Force   on the  ground  AND   can  fire  singular   right after  identifying friendly  IN ADDITION TO  enemy forces, he said.

The aircraft,  due to the  large profile  along with the  fact  This   The item   performs   in  low altitude, flies close air  assist  missions  only   in  night.  since   The idea   sole   is effective   in the  dark,  ones  crew  of  roughly  an  dozen  benefits   quite a few  infrared sensors  AND ALSO  night vision  devices   to help   watch   AND ALSO  engage targets  towards the  ground.

According  to be able to  Navy Cmdr. Elissa Smith,  a  Pentagon spokeswoman, there  has become  12 U.S. airstrikes  Regarding the  city  associated with  Kunduz  because  Sep. 29.  ones  airstrike  on the  Doctors  with out  Borders hospital  was   your  second strike  about the  city.

It  right now  ranks among  sole   of the   almost all  high-profile U.S. strikes  to help  result  inside  civilian casualties  in  Afghanistan.  within  July 2002,  a good  U.S. AC-130 fired  on   the  wedding party, killing  over  40  AS WELL AS  injuring  greater than  100  you   in  northern Helmand province.

Since Saturday’s attack, Doctors  with no  Borders  has  left Kunduz.

Tim Craig  within  Kabul contributed  in order to   your  report.