US airstrikes 'by the book'
2008-06-13 07:23
Washington - Airstrikes by US-led forces in Afghanistan that Pakistan says killed 11 Pakistani soldiers were carried out "by the book", the top US military chief said on Thursday.
"The details of this (operation) are still not clear (but) every indication I have is that this operation was executed in accordance with procedures, that it was very much by the book," chairperson of the joint chiefs Admiral Michael Mullen told journalists.
"If there was these deaths of Pakistani military, it is incredibly regrettable," he stressed. So far the United States had not acknowledged having killed Pakistani troops.
Islamabad accused US-led forces in Afghanistan of launching an "unprovoked and cowardly" attack on a check post in Pakistan's volatile Mohmand tribal zone, further straining ties between the allies.
The US Air Force said on its website: "In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles performed shows of force to deter enemy activities in the vicinity of Mita, Orgun-E and Zormat.
"On-scene joint terminal attack controllers (JTAC) confirmed the missions were successful."
"An Air Force B-1B Lancer and F-15Es dropped guided bomb unit-12s, 31s and 38 to destroy anti-coalition members in the open and in buildings in the vicinity of Asadabad. The JTAC reported the missions successful," the report added.
- AFP