Azizabad airstrike

Infobox military attack
title= Azizabad airstrike

---

imgsize=250px
caption=The AC-130 “Spooky” gunship. Equipped with a rapid-fire five-barrel 25mm Gatling gun, a 40mm Bofors cannon and a 105mm howitzer, it is designed to lay waste to exposed targets with a torrent of bullets and artillery shells
location=Azizabad, Herat, Afghanistan
target=Taliban commander
date=Start date|2008|08|22
time=
timezone=
type=Aerial attack
fatalities=30 - 90
injuries=
instigator=Afghanistan, United States
conflict=War in Afghanistan (2001–present)

The Azizabad airstrike took place on Friday 22 August 2008 in the village of Azizabad which is located in Shindand district, Herat Province, Afghanistan. It is estimated that between 7 and 90 civilians were killed during the attack and a number of structures in the village, including homes, were damaged or destroyed, although there remains some dispute about the accuracy of these figures. A Taliban commander was the intended target of the airstrike.

ummary of events

Afghan and forces were undertaking an operation in the area in pursuit of a Taliban commander named Mullah Siddiq. The attack on Azizabad was launched when intelligence reports indicated that Siddiq was in the village. A large crowd had assembled in Azizabad to commemorate the recent death of a local leader. Following the airstrike, a widely varying estimate of between 30 and 90 people were killed and eight homes were destroyed, according to accounts from the American troops, aid workers, local villagers, and a report made by the Afghanistan government. [AFP 2008, [http://www.beurs.nl/nieuws/artikel.php?id=269531&taal=US 'Afghan Minister: Probe finds 90 civilians killed in air strikes'] , "Beurs.nl", 24 August. Retrieved 26 August.] This was later confirmed by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) which also undertook an investigation. [ [http://us.ft.com/ftgateway/superpage.ft?news_id=fto082620080939057078 UN says air strikes killed 90 Afghans] - "FT.com", 26 August 2008] The attack was carried out by a US AC-130 ground attack aircraft. [Cogan, J. 2008, [http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/aug2008/afgh-a26.shtml 'US air strike massacres civilians in western Afghanistan'] , "World Socialist Web Site", 26 August. Retrieved on 26 August 2008.]

Reaction

Azizabad residents

The day after the attack, Saturday 23 August 2008, villagers organised a demonstration against Afghan troops which had been deployed to Azizabad to distribute food and other assistance. Several people were injured during a confrontation between villagers and army personnel. [Straziuso, J. and Faiez, R. 2008, [http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jkKFU8CvHoLV5ont_58iLTVBWLVQD92O54BG0 'Rights group: 78 Afghans killed; US to investigate'] , "The Associated Press", 24 August. Retrieved on 26 August 2008.]

Government of Afghanistan

The President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, described the attack as "tragic" and "irresponsible". Karzai dismissed two senior Afghan military personnel, a General and a Major, for "negligence and concealing facts". [Gulf Daily News 2008, [http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=227258&Sn=WORL&IssueID=31158 'Top army generals sacked'] , "Gulf Daily News", 25 August 2008. Retrieved on 26 August 2008.] After a cabinet meeting the government announced that it would seek to renegotiate the terms of the international presence in the country. Some analysts suggested that this announcement was a direct response to the Azizabad event. A government statement called for an end to "airstrikes on civilian targets, unilateral searches of homes and illegal detentions" by international forces. [BBC 2008, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7584464.stm 'Afghan bombing drives allies apart'] , "BBC News", 27 August. Retrieved on 29 August 2008]

Government of United States

The Pentagon described the attack as "a legitimate strike against the Taliban" and questioned the casualty estimates given by the government of Afghanistan and reported by the media. [AFP 2008, [http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080825/pl_afp/afghanistanunrestciviliannatous_080825154739;_ylt=AtLJv1loXN36uletLW0iNQABS5Z4 'Afghanistan attack was 'legitimate' hit at Taliban: Pentagon'] , "Yahoo News", 25 August. Retrieved on 26 August 2008.] The US military originally denied that any civilian casualties had occurred, but later acknowledged that some civilians may have been killed and announced its intention to conduct an investigation. [BBC 2008, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7581270.stm 'Afghans demand new troops deal'] , "BBC News", 25 August. Retrieved on 26 August 2008.] Preliminary findings of the investigation acknowledged that five civilians had been killed. [AFP 2008, [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/08/26/2347302.htm 'US-led force says 5 Afghan civilians killed in strikes'] , "ABC News", 26 August. Retrieved on 27 August 2008.] On 2 September 2008, a further report was announced in which the US stated that up to seven civilians had been killed and reasserted that the majority of those killed were members of the Taliban. [Straziuso, J. 2008, [http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i8dGftYb0s4XWdUMRdIVs3vh1CKAD92ULSLO0 'US probe finds fewer deaths than UN claimed'] , "Associated Press", 3 September. Retrieved on 3 September 2008.]

United Nations

In a [http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=27816&Cr=Afghan&Cr1 statement] on the attack, the United Nations reports that "An investigation by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has found that some 90 civilians, including 60 children, were among those killed during military operations in the strife-torn nation’s western Herat province last week." The investigation found "'convincing evidence, based on the testimony of eyewitnesses, and others,' that some 90 civilians were killed – including 60 children, 15 women and 15 men – and another 15 villagers wounded."

Other international reaction

Russia circulated a draft United Nations Security Council statement on Tuesday 26 August which expressed serious concern about the numerous civilian casualties reportedly caused by the airstrike. It stated that member nations "strongly deplore the fact that this is not the first incident of this kind." [ [http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080827/NEWS01/808270308/1002/NEWS01 U.N. accuses U.S.-led troops in Afghan deaths] - "Times Argus", 27 august 2008 ]

Video emerges that show more than 40 bodies

On 8 September 2008, a video recorded on a mobile phone emerged, showing around 40 bodies. Following the emegence of this new evidence, the United States announced the need for an independent enquiry into the matter. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAM84uXBd5k Cellphone Video of Afghan Casualties] - New York Times, September 9, 2008 ]

"In light of emerging evidence pertaining to civilian casualties in the August 22 counter-insurgency operation in the Shindand District, Herat province, I feel it is prudent to request that U.S. Central Command send a general officer to review the U.S. investigation and its findings with respect to this new evidence," Gen. David McKiernan - the senior U.S. officer in Afghanistan and the commander of the 40-nation NATO-led mission - said in a statement. [ [http://www.kansascity.com/449/story/786257.html US re-examines Afghan civilian deaths from attack] - KansaCity.com, September 9, 2008 ]

ee also

* Chenagai airstrike
* List of military strikes against presumed terrorist targets

References