Incident is latest setback to Washington’s peace efforts

A U.S. airstrike has killed 16 policemen in Afghanistan, officials said on Saturday, the latest setback to Washington’s efforts to bring peace to the war-torn country.

The incident took place in Helmand province on Friday as Afghan security forces attempted to clear a village of Taliban militants, a police spokesman said. “In the strike, 16 Afghan policemen were killed, including two commanders. Two other policemen were wounded,” he said.

The strike hit a compound in Gereshk district in Helmand, large parts of which are under Taliban control. “A United States-supported [Afghan security] operation resulted in the deaths of friendly Afghan forces, who were gathered in a compound,” NATO’s mission in Afghanistan said in a statement.

Probe into the incident

“We would like to express our deepest condolences to the families affected by this unfortunate incident,” the statement said, adding that there would be a probe into what happened.

An Interior Ministry spokesman said a Ministry delegation had been sent to the area to investigate and help families of the victims.