Afghan family, including six children, killed in NATO air strike

KABUL - Eight civilians in one family, including six children, were killed in a NATO air strike after a field operation in Paktia province, local government officials told NBC News.

The incident took place at 8pm on Saturday in the Garda Serrai district, according the Paktia government spokesman Rohullah Samoon.

They were all members of one family, he said.

NATO said told NBC News it was taking the reports of the incident seriously and was investigating.

Samoon told Reuters said the air strike was not coordinated with Afghan security forces on the ground in the area.

Civilian casualties have been a major source of friction between President Hamid Karzai's government and U.S.-led NATO forces in Afghanistan, Reuters reported.

NATO is preparing to hand over all security responsibilities to Afghan forces and most foreign combat troops are scheduled to leave the country by the end of 2014.

Khyber Shinwari, NBC News, contributed to this report.

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