The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) has claimed responsibility for killing nine Afghan children in eastern Kunar province and apologized for what they did. In a statement, Commander of International Security Assistance Force, General David H. Petraeus, said they are deeply sorry for the tragedy and apologize to the members of the Afghan government, the people of Afghanistan and the surviving family members of those killed by their actions. The statement said the incident occurred following insurgent rocket attacks on the coalition forces and the forces returned fire at the assessed point of origin with indirect and aerial fire. Earlier, President Hamid Karzai strongly condemned the incident. In a statement released by his office, Mr. Karzai said the air strike by the NATO that killed nine innocent children and injured another in Kunar happened in less than ten days from a similar attack that left many civilians dead in the same province. Mr. Karzai said fighting terrorism in Afghan villages can achieve no success, but the poor and innocent civilians have to suffer in the unjustifiable operations and bombings carried out by the NATO and ISAF.