QALAT, Afghanistan - Afghan villagers said Thursday that U.S. warplanes had bombed houses, killing several civilians and wounding others, including an infant. U.S. forces suffered their sixth fatality in a week amid rising violence.
Zabul Gov. Ali Khail said U.S.-led coalition forces made "a mistake" during operations against militants in the southern province and that civilians had died. He gave no details.
The U.S. military denied civilians were at the scene of the fighting in Day Chopan district Monday and the district's police chief said Taliban insurgents had been hiding in the area. American officials said earlier that 18 suspected Taliban guerrillas and one U.S. service member had been killed in the clash.
Another U.S. service member died Thursday when militants ambushed a group of American military engineers near a road construction project in Paktika province. Another service member was wounded.
