Haska Meyna wedding party airstrike

The Haska Meyna wedding party airstrike was an attack by United States military forces on 6 July 2008, in which 47 Afghans were killed. The group was escorting a bride to a wedding ceremony in the groom's village in Haska Meyna District of Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan.

Haska Meyna wedding party airstrike
Haska Meyna is located in Afghanistan
Haska Meyna
Haska Meyna
Haska Meyna (Afghanistan)
Date6 July 2008
Location
Haska Meyna, Haska Meyna District, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan
Result 47 civilians killed, including 39 women and children and 8 teenagers; another nine wounded

The United States government denied that civilians were killed in the incident. An investigation by the Afghan government disagreed and determined that 47 civilians, including the bride, had been killed.[1][2][3][4][5]

Summary of events

On 6 July 2008, many Afghan civilians were walking in an area called Kamala in Haska Meyna District of the eastern province of Nangarhar.[6][7] When the group stopped for a rest, it was hit in succession by three bombs from United States military aircraft.[8] The first bomb hit a group of children who were ahead of the main procession, killing them instantly.[8] A few minutes later, the aircraft returned and dropped a second bomb in the center of the group, killing many women.[8] The bride and two girls survived the second bomb, but were killed by a third bomb while trying to escape from the area.[8] Hajj Khan, one of four elderly men who were escorting the party, stated that his grandson was killed and that there were body parts everywhere.[8]

Relatives from the groom's village stated it was not possible to identify the remains, and buried the 47 victims in 28 graves.[8] An investigation ordered by President Karzai and led by a nine-man commission of the senate found that 47 civilians including the bride had been killed.[3][5] Burhanullah Shinwari, a member of the commission, told the BBC that there were 39 women and children among those killed, and that eight of those who died were between the ages of 14 and 18.[9] Another nine people were wounded in the attack.[4]

U.S. forces stated they had been targeting an insurgent force, labeled a "target of opportunity," that was evidently targeting a nearby base with mortars.[10][11] On 16 July 2008, President Hamid Karzai visited the site where the US-led strikes hit the wedding.[12]

Cultural references

Rock band The Airborne Toxic Event recorded a track protesting the bombing entitled "Welcome to Your Wedding Day" on their second album All at Once.[13]

See also

References
  1. Shah, Amir (11 July 2008). "47 Afghan civilians killed by US bombs, group says". FOX News. Associated Press. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  2. "47 air strike kills 47 Afghan civilians". Bangladesh News. 14 February 2011. Archived from the original on 3 October 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
  3. "US-led strikes kills 64 Afghan civilians". Agence France-Presse. 11 July 2008. Archived from the original on 5 September 2008. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  4. James Sturcke and agencies (11 July 2008). "US air strike wiped out Afghan wedding party, inquiry finds". The Guardian. UK. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
  5. Garlasco, Marc E. (2008). "Troops in contact": airstrikes and civilian deaths in Afghanistan. New York: Human Rights Watch. p. 24. ISBN 978-1-56432-362-0.
  6. "South Asia | Afghan survivors tell of wedding bombing". BBC News. 13 July 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
  7. "Afghan official: U.S. strike hit wedding party". NBC News. 7 November 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
  8. Clancy Chassay (16 December 2008). "Special report: 'I was still holding my grandson's hand – the rest was gone'". The Guardian. UK. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
  9. "South Asia | US 'killed 47 Afghan civilians'". BBC News. 11 July 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
  10. "US 'killed 47 Afghan civilians'". BBC News. 11 July 2008. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  11. ""Troops in Contact" - Airstrikes and Civilian Deaths in Afghanistan". Human Rights Watch. 8 September 2008. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  12. "AFP: Afghan leader visits site where US-led strikes hit wedding". Agence France-Presse. 17 July 2008. Archived from the original on 6 October 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
  13. "Airborne Toxic Event Condemn Drone Bombings in 'Wedding' Song". Spinner. 17 November 2010. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2011.

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