2007 Helmand Province airstrikes

NATO airstrikes in Afghanistan right|thumb|The airstrikes in Helmand Province resulted in the highest civilian deaths since 2001. The 2007 Helmand province airstrikes were a set of airstrikes conducted by NATO on 22 June 2007 which resulted in death of at least 45 Afghan civilians. The death count in southern Helmand province was the highest since 2001, when US-led forces used heavy bombing in their campaign to drive the Taliban from power.NATO air strikes kill villagers Herald Sun July 2, 2007 http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21999032-663,00.html https://web.archive.org/web/20070704011300/http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21999032-663,00.html dead July 4, 2007 2007-07-04https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/jul/01/afghanistan.afghanistantimeline Jason Burke Jason Burke The Guardian July 1, 2007 'Up to 80 civilians dead' after US air strikes in Afghanistan 2007-07-04 Background The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. This marked the beginning of the U.S. war on terror. The stated purpose of the invasion was to capture Osama bin Laden, destroy Al-Qaeda, and remove the Taliban regime which had provided support and safe harbor to Al-Qaeda. The U.S. and Britain led the aerial bombing campaign, with ground forces supplied primarily by the Afghan Northern Alliance and supplemented by NATO troops. The U.S. military name of the conflict was Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). A U.N. tally shows that of civilian deaths this year, 314 were caused by international or Afghan security forces, and 279 by insurgents. A similar Associated Press count, though lower, shows the same trend: 213 killed by the U.S. or NATO and 180 by the Taliban. The event On 22 June 2007, NATO fighters attacked alleged insurgents in South Afghanistan.http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID=%7BC71D7B51-778C-4C07-8280-54F6E2264297%7D)&language=EN Prensa Latina July 1, 2007 Air Raids Kill over 100 Afghans 2007-07-04 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070927190820/http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID=%7BC71D7B51-778C-4C07-8280-54F6E2264297%7D%29&language=EN September 27, 2007 They targeted several houses in the southern part of Helmand province. What is not clear is exactly how many people died. It is known that women and children were among the dead, some local leaders say over 100 people were killed. The US and NATO say they do not have civilian casualty figures. Afghans' reaction Civilian deaths have infuriated Afghans. Afghan president Hamid Karzai has condemned the forces for carelessness and viewing Afghan lives as "cheap." He has also blamed the Taliban for using civilians as human shields.https://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/07/01/ap3874931.html Afghans: 62 Taliban, 45 Civilians Dead Noor Khan July 1, 2007 Forbes 2007-07-04January 2022 medicmedic President Hamid Karzai ordered a six-man team to conduct a more thorough investigation into the dozens of deaths in Helmand province, said Sher Mohammad Akhanzada, a member of parliament from the province. Karzai accused NATO of careless operation.https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070623.wkarzai0623/BNStory/International/ Karzai accuses NATO of 'careless operations' in civilian deaths David Fox The Globe and Mail June 23, 2007 2007-07-04 2007-06-27 https://web.archive.org/web/20070627030922/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070623.wkarzai0623/BNStory/International/ deadABC News https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=3309580 Karzai Warns NATO: Afghan Life Not Cheap Rahim Faiez Rahim Faiez June 24, 2007 2007-07-04 October 2010 H3llBot NATO's response NATO, which has admitted some civilians were killed in the battle late Friday but says the number is far fewer than 45, welcomed Karzai's order. International reactions Pakistan condemned civilian killings by NATO forces in tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.http://www.aljazeera.com/news/newsfull.php?newid=14980 June 26, 2007 Pakistan condemns NATO civilian killings Al Jazeera 2007-07-04 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20071030030233/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/newsfull.php?newid=14980 October 30, 2007 References See also War in Afghanistan (2001–present) Afghanistan Category:2007 in the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) 2007 airstrikes Category:Airstrikes during the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Category:Civilian casualties in the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Category:June 2007 in Afghanistan Category:Attacks in Afghanistan in 2007 Category:2007 airstrikes Category:Building bombings in Afghanistan Category:2007 building bombings Category:NATO airstrikes Category:NATO operations in Afghanistan Category:2007 mass murders Category:War crimes in the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Category:21st-century mass murders in Afghanistan