Shadi Khan Saif
26 January 2020•Update: 27 January 2020
KABUL, Afghanistan
Hundreds of Afghans took to the streets on Sunday in northern Balkh province against the alleged killing of at least six members of a family in an air raid.
The protesters said the air raid hit a residential home in the Balkh district of the province Saturday evening, killing six members of a single family.
According to the demonstrators, three women and as many children were among those killed in the raid that was conducted during the ongoing security operation.
Haneef Rezaey, a spokesman for the Afghan National Army in the province, told Anadolu Agency an operation against the Taliban was carried out in the area last night and at least 16 militants were killed.
Meanwhile, the country’s Defense Ministry has pledged to launch investigation into the matter.
“A fact-finding team has been sent to the area. This team would investigate the incident, and if the findings proved that the civilians have sustained losses, serious legal actions would be taken”, the statement said.
In 2019, figures compiled by Anadolu Agency, suggest more than 3,000 civilians lost their lives to the various sorts of assaults claimed by the Taliban militants and Daesh terrorist organization as well as the pro-government forces.
