US Air Strike Kills Civilians In Kabul After Arrival Of US Defense Secretary

NATO has admitted that an American air strike killed civilians near Kabul's airport in Afghanistan on Wednesday.

Afghan officials say at least one woman died and 11 others were hurt.

The strike was made in response to an insurgent attack on Hamid Karzai International Airport during yesterday’s visit by the US Defense Secretary.

A NATO statement says “tragically, one of the missiles malfunctioned, causing several casualties”.

"Resolute Support deeply regrets the harm to non-combatants.

"We take every precaution to avoid civilian casualties, even as the enemies of Afghanistan continue to operate in locations that deliberately put civilians at very high risk.

"An investigation into the attack and the malfunctioning ammunition has begun."

Rockets Strike Kabul Airport after Arrival of US Defense Secretary

Hours after US Defense Secretary, Jim Mattis, landed in Kabul, several rockets were launched at Hamid Karzai International Airport.

At least five civilians, including a woman, were injured in the attack. 

A NATO statement said that insurgents fired "several rounds of high-explosive ammunition, including mortars, into the vicinity of Hamid Karzai International Airport and detonated suicide vests".

Mattis and the NATO secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, were in Kabul for a visit and held a joint news conference with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, claimed responsibility for the attack on his official Twitter account.

Tumor Shah Hamedi, director of the Kabul airport, said all flights were halted as a result of the attack.

Mr Ghani said during the joint news conference at the presidential palace that special forces troops brought the attack under control.

Mr Mattis called the Kabul attack "a crime" during the news conference, which was broadcast live.

He is the first member of Donald Trump's cabinet to visit the country since the US president pledged to stay the course in Afghanistan.

The unannounced visit comes as the country’s beleaguered security forces continue to struggle against Taliban offensives which have continued since the withdrawal of NATO combat troops at the end of 2014.

Known as Op Toral to British forces, the hope is to strengthen Afghanistan's military so it can defend the country on its own.

"Discussions will focus on the NATO-Afghanistan partnership, including the ongoing NATO-led Resolute Support Mission in support of the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces," a statement on Resolute Support's Facebook page said.

The US is sending more than 3,000 additional troops to train and advise the country's security forces, as part of Trump’s plans.

It is on top of the 11,000 already on the ground as well as the 5,000 other NATO troops deployed around the country.

Critics have questioned what the extra soldiers can accomplish that previous forces – prior to 2014 – were unable to do.

Regardless, the US is pressing NATO partners to increase their troop levels in the country.

In response, the Taliban have promised to turn Afghanistan into a "graveyard" for foreign forces, as they maintain their grip on huge areas of the country.

According to the US watchdog agency, about 40% of Afghanistan's 407 districts were not reported to be under government control as of February.

Earlier this week Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) criticised the US mission to train Afghanistan's security forces.

John Sopko, SIGAR, said the US was woefully unprepared to create security forces of the size and scope needed in Afghanistan.