http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/30/world/asia/american-airstrike-afghanistan.html 2016-09-29 22:39:41 American Airstrike Killed Afghan Civilians, U.N. Says An American spokesman said the military was investigating reports of civilian casualties in the strike in the Islamic State stronghold of Achin district, in Nangarhar Province. === KABUL, Afghanistan — The Information about the strike, which occurred early on Wednesday morning in the Islamic State stronghold of Achin district, in Nangarhar Province, has been contradictory, with the remoteness of the area making reports hard to verify. Groups of fighters claiming allegiance to the Islamic State have been gaining ground in From the onset of Wednesday’s strike, which the United Nations statement said was carried out by a remotely piloted A delegation sent by the governor of Nangarhar Province returned with its findings late on Wednesday, saying 18 of those killed were Islamic State fighters, including a major commander and judge. There were five civilian casualties, the delegation said in a statement issued by the governor’s office. It did not detail how many were dead and how many were wounded. The United Nations, although acknowledging government reports that Islamic State fighters were among the victims, said most of those killed were civilians. “The civilians had gathered in a village to celebrate the return of a tribal elder from Brig. Gen. Charles Cleveland, a spokesman for the United States military in Afghanistan, said American officials were aware of the United Nations statement but stood by the insistence that the military had been targeting Islamic State militants. General Cleveland added: “We continue to work with Afghan authorities to determine if there is cause for additional investigation.”