Pentagon chief: Afghan situation 'confused and complicated'

October 4, 2015 at 2:04 p.m.

by The Associated Press

In this Sept. 30, 2015, photo Defense Secretary Ash Carter speaks to reporters during a news conference at the Pentagon.
In this Sept. 30, 2015, photo Defense Secretary Ash Carter speaks to reporters during a news conference at the Pentagon.

MADRID — U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter is promising a full and transparent investigation into whether a U.S. aircraft providing air support for American and Afghan special operations forces in Afghanistan was responsible for the explosions that destroyed a hospital and killed 22 people.

Carter tells reporters traveling with him in Spain that the situation is "confused and complicated" right now.

U.S. officials say American special operations forces advising Afghan commandos in the vicinity of the hospital requested the air support when they came under fire in the northern city of Kunduz. The officials say the C-130 gunship responded and fired on the area, but it's not certain yet whether that was what destroyed the hospital.

The officials were not authorized to discuss the incident publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity

IN TODAY'S DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

http://www.arkansas…">Airstrike hits hospital in Afghan city; 19 die

photo

Médecins Sans Frontières via AP

The Doctors Without Borders trauma center is seen in flames, after explosions near their hospital in the northern Afghan city of Kunduz. Doctors Without Borders announced that the death toll from the bombing of the group's Kunduz hospital compound has risen to at least 16, including 3 children and that tens are missing after the explosions that may have been caused by a U.S. airstrike. In a statement, the international charity said the "sustained bombing" took place at 2:10 a.m. (21:40 GMT). Afghan forces backed by U.S. airstrikes have been fighting to dislodge Taliban insurgents who overran Kunduz on Monday.

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