Seven children were killed in a US-led coalition air strike against a suspected al-Qaeda hideout in eastern Afghanistan, the coalition has said.
A statement said that a number of militants were also killed in the raid in Paktika province, near Pakistan.
The children are believed to have been students at a madrassa, or Islamic school, at the targeted compound.
In the south, three coalition soldiers and their Afghan interpreter died in a bomb blast, the US military said.
A statement said that a number of militants were also killed in the raid in Paktika province, near Pakistan.
The children are believed to have been students at a madrassa, or Islamic school, at the targeted compound.
In the south, three coalition soldiers and their Afghan interpreter died in a bomb blast, the US military said.
The deaths came after "an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle in Kandahar province" on Sunday, a statement said.
Afghan police and coalition forces also fought "prolonged battles" with militants in Helmand and Kandahar provinces, the coalition says. It says "several dozen" militants were killed in Helmand but there is no independent confirmation of this.
Hours before the Sunday night air raid in Paktika, a devastating bomb attack on an Afghan police bus in Kabul killed 35 people and injured more than 30 others.
Afghan police and coalition forces also fought "prolonged battles" with militants in Helmand and Kandahar provinces, the coalition says. It says "several dozen" militants were killed in Helmand but there is no independent confirmation of this.
Hours before the Sunday night air raid in Paktika, a devastating bomb attack on an Afghan police bus in Kabul killed 35 people and injured more than 30 others.
'Saddened'
A coalition statement said the air raid followed "credible intelligence" that al-Qaeda militants had taken shelter at the complex. "Coalition forces confirmed the presence of nefarious activity occurring at the site before getting approval to conduct an air strike on the location," the statement said.
It said the compound in Zarghun Shah in Paktika province, about 120 miles (180km) south of the capital, Kabul, also contained a mosque and a madrassa (Islamic school).
The statement said that residents of the targeted compound reported that militants had been at the camp all day.
"This is another example of al-Qaeda using the protective status of a mosque, as well as innocent civilians, to shield themselves," coalition spokesman Major Chris Belcher said.
A coalition statement said the air raid followed "credible intelligence" that al-Qaeda militants had taken shelter at the complex. "Coalition forces confirmed the presence of nefarious activity occurring at the site before getting approval to conduct an air strike on the location," the statement said.
It said the compound in Zarghun Shah in Paktika province, about 120 miles (180km) south of the capital, Kabul, also contained a mosque and a madrassa (Islamic school).
The statement said that residents of the targeted compound reported that militants had been at the camp all day.
"This is another example of al-Qaeda using the protective status of a mosque, as well as innocent civilians, to shield themselves," coalition spokesman Major Chris Belcher said.
BBC News
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