Top general in Afghanistan: US strike on hospital a mistake

 

US-GENERAL
U.S. Forces-Afghanistan Resolute Support Mission Commander Gen. John Campbell arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015, to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the Situation in Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

BOSTON HERALD
6 October 2015

WASHINGTON — The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan says the recent airstrike on a hospital in the northern city of Kunduz was a mistake.

Gen. John Campbell tells the Senate Armed Services Committee that it was a U.S. decision to conduct the airstrike and that the hospital was “mistakenly struck.”

Campbell’s testimony came three days after the airstrike on the medical clinic killed at least 22 people and wounded dozens more.

The clinic was operated by the medical charity Doctors Without Borders.

Campbell said Monday that the airstrike was requested by Afghan forces who reported being under Taliban fire.

STORY
>> Doctors Without Borders pulls out of Kunduz & calls for full investigation into strike on its hospital

REUTERS
6 October 2015

U.S. forces provided close air support to Afghan forces engaged in a fight with Taliban militants in Kunduz on Saturday at their request, U.S. Army General John Campbell said in testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee.

“To be clear, the decision to provide aerial fires was a U.S. decision made within the U.S. chain of command,” Campbell said. “A hospital was mistakenly struck. We would never intentionally target a protected medical facility.”

Campbell said he has directed forces under his command to undergo in-depth training to review operational authorities and rules of engagement to prevent further incidents like Kunduz. – Reuters

 

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