At least six civilians were killed in an airstrike in northern <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/plane-crashes-in-afghanistans-ghazni-province-276876">Afghanistan</a> over the weekend, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-instructs-officials-not-to-use-whatsapp-not-supported-as-a-secure-mechanism-says-spokesman-276367">UN</a> confirmed on Monday, as fighting continues to rage across the country despite hopes the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-driver-disguises-skeleton-to-drive-in-car-sharing-lane-276870">US </a>and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/trump-wants-significant-drop-in-taliban-violence-for-afghan-talks-275983">Taliban</a> were hammering out a ceasefire.

The UN's findings come days after reports first surfaced that several civilians had been killed in an airstrike in Boka village in northern Balkh province.

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UN gravely concerned as its initial findings indicate at least four children and two women killed Saturday by pro-government forces airstrike in Boka village, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Balkh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Balkh</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a>. UNAMA urges victim support and earliest publication of ANA and USFOR-A investigations. <a href="https://t.co/1cmBlCfqyo">pic.twitter.com/1cmBlCfqyo</a>
— UNAMA News (@UNAMAnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/UNAMAnews/status/1221772484493697024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The US and Afghan militaries are the only forces in Afghanistan that have the capability to carry out airstrikes in the country.

Balkh governor's spokesman <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/at-least-11-afghan-police-killed-in-taliban-attack-253019">Munir Farhad</a> confirmed that civilians had been killed in Boka, but said officials were still investigating the incident.

The statement comes as Washington has for weeks been calling for the violence to be reduced in the country, amid talks with the Taliban over a possible agreement that would see US troops begin to leave Afghanistan in return for security guarantees.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/plane-crashes-in-afghanistans-ghazni-province-276876">Plane crashes in Afghanistan's Ghazni province</a>

Taliban sources told AFP earlier this month they had offered to initiate a brief ceasefire of seven to 10 days, but there was no announcement of the proposal by either party.

The Taliban are aiming to reach a withdrawal agreement with the US by the end of January and are prepared to "scale down" military operations ahead of signing a deal, their chief spokesman said earlier this month.

The two sides had been negotiating the deal for a year and were on the brink of an announcement in September 2019 when <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/trump-wants-significant-drop-in-taliban-violence-for-afghan-talks-275983">Trump</a> abruptly declared the process "dead", citing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-president-briefed-by-us-officials-on-peace-talks-with-taliban-276713">Taliban</a> violence.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/trump-wants-significant-drop-in-taliban-violence-for-afghan-talks-275983">Also read:&nbsp;Trump wants 'significant' drop in Taliban violence for Afghan talks</a>

Talks were later restarted in December in Qatar, but paused again following an attack near the US-run Bagram military base in Afghanistan.

Any agreement with the Taliban is expected to have two pillars -- a US withdrawal from Afghanistan and a commitment by the insurgents not to offer sanctuary to jihadists. It would ultimately have to win final approval from Trump.

Last month, UNAMA reported that more than 100,000 Afghan civilians have been killed or injured over the past decade -- a grim milestone after more than 18 years of war since US and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-to-invite-nato-members-for-international-army-games-defence-minister-shoigu-276426">NATO</a> allies invaded the country following the September 11 attacks in 2001

At least six civilians were killed in an airstrike in northern Afghanistan over the weekend, the UN confirmed on Monday, as fighting continues to rage across the country despite hopes the US and Taliban were hammering out a ceasefire.

At least six civilians were killed in an airstrike in northern Afghanistan over the weekend, the UN confirmed on Monday, as fighting continues to rage across the country despite hopes the US and Taliban were hammering out a ceasefire. The UN's findings come days after reports first surfaced that several civilians had been killed in an airstrike in Boka village in northern Balkh province. UN gravely concerned as its initial findings indicate at least four children and two women killed Saturday by pro-government forces airstrike in Boka village, #Balkh, #Afghanistan. UNAMA urges victim support and earliest publication of ANA and USFOR-A investigations. pic.twitter.com/1cmBlCfqyo — UNAMA News (@UNAMAnews) January 27, 2020 × The US and Afghan militaries are the only forces in Afghanistan that have the capability to carry out airstrikes in the country. Balkh governor's spokesman Munir Farhad confirmed that civilians had been killed in Boka, but said officials were still investigating the incident. The statement comes as Washington has for weeks been calling for the violence to be reduced in the country, amid talks with the Taliban over a possible agreement that would see US troops begin to leave Afghanistan in return for security guarantees. Also read: Plane crashes in Afghanistan's Ghazni province Taliban sources told AFP earlier this month they had offered to initiate a brief ceasefire of seven to 10 days, but there was no announcement of the proposal by either party. The Taliban are aiming to reach a withdrawal agreement with the US by the end of January and are prepared to "scale down" military operations ahead of signing a deal, their chief spokesman said earlier this month. The two sides had been negotiating the deal for a year and were on the brink of an announcement in September 2019 when Trump abruptly declared the process "dead", citing Taliban violence. Also read: Trump wants 'significant' drop in Taliban violence for Afghan talks Talks were later restarted in December in Qatar, but paused again following an attack near the US-run Bagram military base in Afghanistan. Any agreement with the Taliban is expected to have two pillars -- a US withdrawal from Afghanistan and a commitment by the insurgents not to offer sanctuary to jihadists. It would ultimately have to win final approval from Trump. Last month, UNAMA reported that more than 100,000 Afghan civilians have been killed or injured over the past decade -- a grim milestone after more than 18 years of war since US and NATO allies invaded the country following the September 11 attacks in 2001

Six civilians killed in Afghanistan airstrike: United Nations

An airstrike by the United States and Afghan forces struck the home of a Taliban commander in Afghanistan&#39;s Nangarhar provinces, causing several civilian casualties, government and the Taliban&nbsp;said.

A police official said that the strike was carried out by an unmanned aircraft and killed four people inside the house, Reuters reported.

The strike targeted the home of Mawlawi Mohammad Alam, a Taliban commander in the Sherzad district, Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the provincial governor said. He said that though there were casualties, he could not confirm numbers, Reuters reported.

The Taliban said in a statement two civilians were killed and more than 30 injured in the airstrike carried out on Mohammad Alam&#39;s home by American and Afghan forces. A ground attack preceded the airstrike.

A dozen wounded civilians, among them seven children and five women, were taken to the local hospital. Four of them are in a critical condition, Najibullah Kamawal, the director of provincial health services told Reuters.

On Friday, US forces carried out a strike in Sherzad in defence of &quot;friendly forces&quot;, a spokesman for the NATO-led Resolute Support mission said in Kabul. He gave no details of the strike but said that civilian casualties would be investigated.

&quot;We take all allegations of civilian casualties seriously and will work with our Afghan partners to review all related material,&quot; Brigadier General Charles Cleveland said in an emailed statement.

The United States has carried out many raids against the Islamic State and al Qaeda militants in eastern Afghanistan. New combat rules, issued this year, have given U.S. commanders greater scope of attacking Taliban militants, pushing up the number of airstrikes sharply, Reuters reports.

Last Sunday, two al Qaeda leaders were killed in an airstrike in the neighbouring province of Kunar, Reuters reported.

(WION with inputs from Reuters)

A police official said the strike was carried out by an unmanned aircraft and killed four people inside the house

An airstrike by the United States and Afghan forces struck the home of a Taliban commander in Afghanistan's Nangarhar provinces, causing several civilian casualties, government and the Taliban said. A police official said that the strike was carried out by an unmanned aircraft and killed four people inside the house, Reuters reported. The strike targeted the home of Mawlawi Mohammad Alam, a Taliban commander in the Sherzad district, Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the provincial governor said. He said that though there were casualties, he could not confirm numbers, Reuters reported. The Taliban said in a statement two civilians were killed and more than 30 injured in the airstrike carried out on Mohammad Alam's home by American and Afghan forces. A ground attack preceded the airstrike. A dozen wounded civilians, among them seven children and five women, were taken to the local hospital. Four of them are in a critical condition, Najibullah Kamawal, the director of provincial health services told Reuters. On Friday, US forces carried out a strike in Sherzad in defence of "friendly forces", a spokesman for the NATO-led Resolute Support mission said in Kabul. He gave no details of the strike but said that civilian casualties would be investigated. "We take all allegations of civilian casualties seriously and will work with our Afghan partners to review all related material," Brigadier General Charles Cleveland said in an emailed statement. The United States has carried out many raids against the Islamic State and al Qaeda militants in eastern Afghanistan. New combat rules, issued this year, have given U.S. commanders greater scope of attacking Taliban militants, pushing up the number of airstrikes sharply, Reuters reports. Last Sunday, two al Qaeda leaders were killed in an airstrike in the neighbouring province of Kunar, Reuters reported. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Afghanistan: US-backed airstrike at Taliban leader's home causes civilian casualties

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Six civilians killed in Afghanistan airstrike: United Nations

Afghanistan: US-backed airstrike at Taliban leader's home causes civilian casualties