Afghanistan: 'At least 19 killed' in Kunduz airstrikes

U.S. airstrikes in the northern Afghan city of Kunduz killed and wounded dozens of people early Saturday morning, Afghan health officials said.

Although the country’s interior ministry said Taliban militants were targeted, medical charity Sans Frontieres (MSF) said at least 12 of its workers and seven patients died in the incident.

“From 2:08 until 3:15 AM local time today, our hospital was hit by a series of aerial bombing raids at approx 15 minute intervals,” the charity tweeted.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon sharply condemned the attack, calling for a thorough and impartial investigation to ensure accountability.

"[Ban] recalls that hospitals and medical personnel are explicitly protected under international humanitarian law," read a statement issued by his spokesperson.

Saad Mukhtar, chief of Kunduz health department, told Anadolu Agency that the airstrikes killed tens of people and left the hospital building partially damaged.

UN rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein also denounced the attack, calling it "utterly tragic, inexcusable, and possibly even criminal”.

"The seriousness of the incident is underlined by the fact that, if established as deliberate in a court of law, an airstrike on a hospital may amount to a war crime," he said.

Nicholas Haysom, the UN’s special representative for Afghanistan said: “I condemn in the strongest terms the tragic and devastating air strike on the Medecins sans Frontieres [MSF] hospital in Kunduz early this morning, which resulted in the deaths and injury of medical personnel, patients and other civilians.”

At least 37 people were seriously injured by the air raid and 19 of them were MSF staff, the charity said.

President Barack Obama offered his condolences to the killed and injured in Saturday's attack, saying that the Pentagon has begun a "full investigation" into the incident. 

"I have asked the Department of Defense to keep me apprised of the investigation and expect a full accounting of the facts and circumstances," he said in a statement, adding that the U.S. would "continue to work closely with President [Ashraf] Ghani, the Afghan government, and our international partners to support the Afghan National Defense and Security forces as they work to secure their country."

U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter also offered his condolences while acknowledging that U.S. forces supporting their Afghan counterparts "were operating nearby". 

Afghan interior ministry said Taliban militants had taken position in the hospital compound and were firing on Afghan forces at the time of the attack.

“Afghan security forces launched a clearing operation on hospital last night where tens of militants had positioned,” said ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi.

“The enemies of peace and stability use civilian homes and fire on Afghan forces from time to time,” he said.

Sediqqi added that Afghan forces had transferred about 70 MSF staff to a safe zone during the operation.

Kunduz  has been at the center of intense fighting between Taliban insurgents and government forces, backed by international air strikes.