Afghan official: 13 civilians killed in airstrike on house

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - An Afghan official says at least 13 civilians have been killed in an airstrike that hit a residential house in a volatile district of eastern Nangarhar province.

Esmatullah Shinwari, a Nangarhar lawmaker, said Wednesday a crowd had gathered at the house in Achin district to welcome home a tribal leader returning from the Hajj.

He says 12 people were wounded, including the tribal leader.

Hazrat Hussain Mashreqiwal, spokesman for the provincial police chief, says Islamic State group loyalists were the target. Afghan forces backed by the U.S. military have been battling IS fighters in Achin for months.

The spokesman for the U.S. military in Afghanistan, Brig. Gen. Charles Cleveland, confirmed a "counter-terrorism air strike in Achin district" early Wednesday.

He says allegations of civilian casualties are being investigated.