AP Top News at 12:14 a.m. EST

AP Top News at 12:14 a.m. EST

Civilian death toll climbs in Afghan offensive

MARJAH, Afghanistan — Three more Afghan civilians have been killed in the assault on a southern Taliban stronghold, NATO forces said Tuesday, highlighting the toll on the population from an offensive aimed at making them safer. The deaths — in three separate incidents — come after two errant U.S. missiles struck a house on the outskirts of the town of Marjah on Sunday, killing 12 people, half of them children. Afghan officials said Monday that three Taliban fighters were in the house at the time of the attack.

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