US raid kills 6 in Afghanistan

Source: AP

KABUL, Afghanistan - U.S. forces searching for bomb makers raided Afghan homes near the border with Pakistan early Wednesday, exchanging gunfire with militants. Six people were killed, including two children and a woman, Afghan officials said.

The U.S.-led coalition said its forces were searching compounds in Khost province for a militant named Bismullah who organized roadside bomb attacks and smuggled weapons. Militants shot at the troops, who returned fire and killed "several militants," including Bismullah and Rahim Jan, another man suspected of making bombs, the coalition said.

A woman and two children were among six people killed, said Khibar Pashtun, a spokesman for the Khost governor.

The coalition statement said a woman and a child who were in one of the buildings from which militants were shooting were killed.

"Coalition forces take every possible precaution to ensure the safety of non-combatants during the conduct of operations. It is regrettable that militants continue to place innocent lives at risk simply to further their own agendas," Maj. Chris Belcher, a spokesman for the coalition, said in a statement.



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