US-Luftangriff bei Kundus: Viele zivile Opfer, zwei gefallene US-Soldaten (Nachtrag: Erklärung US-Truppen)

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In Kundus sind am (heutigen) Donnerstagmorgen zwei US-Soldaten bei einer offensichtlich fehlgeschlagenen Zugriffsoperation gefallen – und der anschließende Luftschlag hat nach bisherigen offiziellen Angaben mindestens 30 Menschenleben gefordert, so weit bekannt überwiegend Zivilisten.

Aus der offiziellen Mitteilung der NATO-geführten Resolute Support Mission:

KABUL, Afghanistan (Nov 3, 2016) – Two U.S. service members died as a result of wounds sustained during operations in Kunduz district, Kunduz Province today. Two other U.S. service members were wounded in the operation.

„On behalf of all of U.S. Forces – Afghanistan, today’s loss is heartbreaking and we offer our deepest condolences to the families and friends of our service members who lost their lives today. Our wounded soldiers are receiving the best medical care possible and we are keeping them and their families in our thoughts today, as well,“ said General John W. Nicholson, commander of USFOR-A. „Despite today’s tragic event, we are steadfast in our commitment to help our Afghan partners defend their nation.“
The service members came under fire during a train, advise and assist mission with our Afghan partners to clear a Taliban position and disrupt the group’s operations in Kunduz district.

Von den zivilen Opfern ist da noch nicht die Rede, aber in den Medienberichten dazu:

AFP:

A NATO airstrike killed at least 30 Afghan civilians, including women and children, on Thursday in the volatile northern province of Kunduz, officials said, after a Taliban assault there left two American soldiers dead.
The airstrike, which occurred early Thursday, triggered emotionally-charged protests in the provincial capital, with the victims‘ relatives rallying outside the governor’s office while carrying the bodies of dead children. (…)
„Afghan forces and coalition troops conducted a joint operation against the Taliban insurgents,“ provincial spokesman Mahmood Danish told AFP. „In the bombardment 30 Afghan civilians were martyred and 25 others were wounded.“

New York Times

Two American soldiers and more than 30 Afghans were killed on Thursday in the midst of heavy fighting around the northern provincial capital of Kunduz, officials and local residents said. (…)
The governor of Kunduz, Asadullah Omarkhel, said 30 civilians were killed and 46 were wounded in airstrikes, which he attributed to Afghan forces, and he also said four Afghan Special Forces soldiers were killed. Local residents and other officials in Kunduz district, which includes the city of Kunduz and its outlying areas, attributed the airstrikes to the American military.
A New York Times reporter counted 22 bodies brought into the city on the way to the Kunduz hospital, 14 of them children, four women, two older men and two men of fighting age.

AP

A joint raid by U.S. and Afghan forces targeting senior Taliban commanders killed two American service members and 26 Afghan civilians on Thursday, authorities said, rare combat deaths for Western forces who handed over the task of securing Afghanistan to local troops some two years ago.
NATO described the Americans killed and two other Americans wounded in the assault as being part of „a train, advise and assist mission“ in Afghanistan’s Kunduz province. Meanwhile, Afghan officials said they were still investigating the attack and its civilian casualties, some of which may have been caused by an airstrike.

Die NATO-geführte RS-Mission sicherte zu, den Vorfall zu untersuchen:

Nachtrag 5. November: Die US-Truppen in Afghanistan haben sich zwei Tage nach dem Vorfall erstmals zu zivilen Opfern geäußert:

UPDATE ON CIVILIAN CASUALTIES NEAR KUNDUZ
KABUL, Afghanistan (Nov 5, 2016) – An initial investigation has determined that efforts near Kunduz on November 3 to defend Afghan National Defense and Security Forces likely resulted in civilian casualties.
„I deeply regret the loss of innocent lives, regardless of the circumstances. The loss of innocent life is a tragedy and our thoughts are with the families,“ said General John W. Nicholson, Commander of US Forces-Afghanistan. „We will work with our Afghan partners to investigate and determine the facts and we will work with the Government of Afghanistan to provide assistance.“
On November 3rd, Afghan forces advised by US forces, conducted a mission in Boz Village, Kunduz district, Kunduz targeting Taliban leaders who were planning additional attacks in Kunduz city. During the course of the operation, friendly forces encountered significant enemy fire from multiple locations and defended themselves with ground fire and US air-to-ground engagements. Initial reports indicate that several Taliban leaders and Taliban members were killed in the engagement.
As the Government of Afghanistan has said, the presence of Taliban in Kunduz province continues to present a threat to the people. We will continue to support our Afghan partners as they defend the people of Afghanistan.