General Stanley McChrystal has told The New York Times newspaper that in most cases, air strikes will only be used in Afghanistan to prevent U.S. and other coalition troops from being overrun by adversaries.
The tactic is part of the Obama administration's new strategy to tackle an increasingly deadly insurgency that has spread from Afghanistan into neighboring Pakistan.
Civilian casualties in counter-insurgency operations have hurt U.S. and NATO efforts to win the support of local Afghans, and turned some in support of the militants. Afghan leaders have pressed for months for foreign troops to end air strikes and nighttime house raids, which are frequently blamed for civilian deaths.
A U.S. military spokesman, Rear Adm. Greg Smith is quoted by the Associated Press as saying that McChrystal also will issue new rules to U.S. and NATO forces about fighting with militants who are hiding in Afghan houses.
