An air strike by US-led forces on an Afghan rebel camp killed seven people, including three civilians, the US military said today.
The attack, in which four militants were also killed, took place last night in restive Uruzgan province, where Taliban fighters frequently attack US and Afghan government forces and where a US soldier was killed in a Taliban ambush on Tuesday.
"The attack killed one Afghan woman, one Afghan man and a child. Two children were also wounded," the military said in a statement. "All possible efforts are taken to prevent non-combatant injuries and deaths."
The US military gave no details on the aircraft involved; most planes and helicopters in 18,300-strong US-led international force in Afghanistan belong to the United States.
US-led forces toppled the Taliban government in late 2001 after it refused to hand over al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden following the September 11 attacks on the United States.
Taliban fighters have fought on, however, and attacks have picked up in recent weeks after a lull over the winter.