Pentagon Source: Strike Killed 30 Afghan Civilians

U.S. air strikes in Afghanistan on Aug. 22 killed about 30 civilians, many more that the army has already acknowledged, the defense said Wednesday.

A new probe found that the strikes against a Taliban compound in the western province of Herat has killed about 30 civilians - not five to seven in the United States acknowledged Initially, according to a Pentagon official who spoke to condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the record.

The Afghan government and United Nations have said that civilians toll was 90 in August of the operation, which began with a ground raid by U.S. and Afghan forces.

The question of the death of civilians has provoked outrage among Afghans and strained relations with foreign forces to contribute to the fight against the insurgency. Afghan President Hamid Karzai warned the United States and NATO for years that they must stop killing civilians in bombing runs against the militants, saying the death of undermining his government and the international mission.