13 civilians killed in airstrike on house in Afghanistan: Official

An Afghan official said at least 13 civilians have been killed in an airstrike that hit a residential house in a volatile district of eastern Nangarhar province.

An Afghan official said at least 13 civilians have been killed in an airstrike that hit a residential house in a volatile district of eastern Nangarhar province.

An Afghan official said at least 13 civilians have been killed in an airstrike that hit a residential house of Nangarhar province. (Reuters File Photo)

Esmatullah Shinwari, a Nangarhar lawmaker, said on Wednesday a crowd had gathered at the house in Achin district to welcome home a tribal leader returning from the Haj.

He said 12 people were wounded, including the tribal leader.

Hazrat Hussain Mashreqiwal, spokesperson for the provincial police chief, says Islamic State group loyalists were the target. Afghan forces backed by the US military have been battling IS fighters in Achin for months.

The spokesperson for the US military in Afghanistan, Brig. Gen. Charles Cleveland, confirmed a “counter-terrorism air strike in Achin district” early Wednesday.

He said allegations of civilian casualties are being investigated.