The head of the UK’s armed forces, Sir Jock Stirrup, has said the killing of 12 civilians during Operation Moshtarak in Afghanistan was a “serious setback”.
No British troops were involved when two rockets fired by coalition forces missed its target in Marjah.
Sir Jock said the British had to focus on regaining the trust of the Afghan population but accidents were “inevitable”.
Up to 15,000 Nato troops are searching for the Taliban in Marjah and Nad Ali.
On the third day of the operation, the chief of the defence staff 4’s Today programme the population would be safer under the Afghan government than the Taliban.
He said: “It is always damaging, but of course in any conflict situation accidents happen and we must remember that most of the civilian casualties… are caused by the Taliban.
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