A coalition spokesman said troops had been attacked by a “large group of
insurgents”.
“They did request and receive close air support from a fixed-wing
aircraft. Coalition officials are working to determine if those troops in
contact and that close air support mission are related to the claims coming
from Paktia,” he said.
According to United Nations estimates, 410 civilians were killed by coalition
or government troops in 2011, down from 427 the previous year.