UN probes 'credible' reports of nine Afghan civilians killed in air strike

The United Nations said Tuesday it was investigating "credible reports" that nine members of a family had been killed in an air strike in Afghanistan, but US Forces denied the victims were civilians.

Women and children were among those reportedly killed on Saturday after an "aerial ordnance" hit the home of a teacher in Tagab district in the eastern province of Kapisa, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said in a statement.

Six other family members were wounded in the attack on Badrab village, UNAMA added, citing "multiple, credible allegations".

"All the victims from the attack were from the same family, including grandparents and children aged between two and 12," it said.

Latif, whose home was one of three damaged in the strike, told AFP on Monday that 15members of a family including three children were killed when a "bomb" hit their house on Saturday night.

But local officials told AFP they had not received any reports of civilian casualties.

US Forces spokesman David Butler said Afghan ground troops involved in a gunbattle had been forced to call in US air support.