US military commander admits Afghan hospital 'mistakenly struck' by airstrike
Updated: 2015-10-07 08:00
(Xinhua)
|
||||||||
Commander of US forces in Afghanistan John Campbell arrives for a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., the United States, Oct. 6, 2015. Campbell acknowledged on Tuesday a U.S. airstrike "mistakenly" struck a hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan on Saturday that killed 22 civilians. [Photo/Xinhua] |
WASHINGTON - Commander of US forces in Afghanistan John Campbell acknowledged Tuesday a US airstrike "mistakenly" struck a hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, Saturday that killed 22 civilians.
"A hospital was mistakenly struck. We would never intentionally target a protected medical facility," said Campbell at a congressional hearing here amid protests from Doctors Without Borders, an aid agency which runs the hospital hit by the US airstrike.
Campbell fell short of acknowledging the US responsibility Monday during a Pentagon briefing by merely indicating that "several civilians were accidentally struck."
Shortly after his remarks Monday, the aid agency called for an independent investigation into the incident despite pledges from the White House and the Pentagon to conduct transparent investigations.
"Their (US) description of the attack keeps changing - from collateral damage, to a tragic incident, to now attempting to pass responsibility to the Afghanistan government," said General Director Christopher Stokes of the aid agency in a statement issued Monday. "With such constant discrepancies in the US and Afghan accounts of what happened, the need for a full transparent independent investigation is ever more critical."
Meanwhile, Campbell said Tuesday that the decision to provide aerial support came after requests from Afghan forces engaged in a conflict with Taliban militants in Kunduz, Afghanistan, insisting the decision to provide the air support was a US decision made within the US chain of command.
- Russian warplanes hit IS targets in Syria
- Senior US envoy to visit Japan, S Korea, China
- Russia, US agree to cooperate in solving Syria crisis: Russian FM
- Iranian President calls Iran deal victory over war
- LatAm experts praise Xi on yuan, globalization
- Evidence found of summertime water flows on Mars: study
- China wins first Nobel in medicine
- Gary Locke: Candor key to relations
- Saving Chinese folk songs
- Candlelight vigil for Oregon shooting victims
- Chinese people's pursuits in different eras
- Ten highlights from Xi's trip to US and UN
- Top 10 life-changing benefits from Xi's US visit
- Highlights of President Xi's speeches at UN
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
8 highlights about V-day Parade |
Glimpses of Tibet: Plateaus, people and faith |
Chinese entrepreneurs remain optimistic despite economic downfall |
50th anniversary of Tibet autonomous region |
Tianjin explosions: Deaths, destruction and bravery |
Cinemas enjoy strong first half |
Today's Top News
Tu first Chinese to win Nobel Prize in Medicine
Huntsman says Sino-US relationship needs common goals
Xi pledges $2 billion to help developing countries
Young people from US look forward to Xi's state visit: Survey
US to accept more refugees than planned
Li calls on State-owned firms to tap more global markets
Apple's iOS App Store suffers first major attack
Japan enacts new security laws to overturn postwar pacifism
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |