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Data released by US Forces Afghanistan show seven strikes hit Helmand on this day. One of these US strikes caused a number of civilian casualties.

The UN mission in Afghanistan's preliminary findings indicate that as many as 23 civilians have been killed and a further three injured in a strike in Helmand's Garmsir district.

Most of those killed were likely women and children, the UN has found. It is working to verify information indicating that up to 10 children were killed along with eight women, and three children were injured, including an eight-year-old boy.

The strike hit during an operation involving Afghan and international forces, with the US carrying out a strike during a fire-fight on the ground. The US has stated that a secondary explosion occurred after the strike, which they put down to explosives being inside the compound hit.

The US responded to the reports stating:

Local media reported on the strike shortly after, saying it hit a civilian home. An unnamed local official said 16 civilians were killed in that strike, which they said was carried out by "foreign forces" (the US is the only known force to be carrying out strike missions aside the Afghans). A further 16 Taliban members were also killed, according to the official.

Helmand Governor Mohammad Yasin Khan confirmed civilian and Taliban casualties in an air strike, although he did not specify whether Afghan or US forces carried out the strike.

One resident, going by the name of Nafi, said the strike hit the house of Haji Akhtar Mohammad, killing 17 people including women and guests. The brother of Haji Akhtar Mohammad said 30 people were killed, including guests. Only a kid and a dog of the house survived the attack, all others killed and the house totally destroyed, he told Pajhwok.

A doctor in Lashkargah Emergency Hospital said one injured child was transferred to the hospital from the incident area. Family members of this child told me that more than 20 people killed in an airstrike on their house as many of them were still trapped under the ground, he reportedly said.

The Taliban also confirmed the incident. The groups spokesman said that bombardments happened in Goshta and Zanziri Drab areas of Garmsir district last night. He said that an airstrike targeted the house of a local resident named Akhtar Mohammad and killed 23 people including children and women.

The Taliban's spokesperson said the strike killed 23 people, including women and children.

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