60 Afghans reported dead in U.S. strikes

U.S.-led airstrikes against Taliban militants who had attacked NATO forces hit civilian homes in southern Afghanistan, killing both civilians and insurgents, Afghan and Western officials said.

Local officials said as many as 60 civilians and 35 militants had been killed in Helmand province’s Gereshk district.

The U.S. acknowledged that some civilians were killed after fighters sought shelter in villagers’ homes.

Also, a British soldier was killed when Taliban fighters fired on coalition forces in the southern village of Qaleh-e-Gaz, Britain’s Defense Ministry said.