KABUL (Ruptly) — Hundreds of protesters gathered in Mihtarlam in Laghman province in eastern Afghanistan on Monday demanding an end to US airstrikes in the country and condemning civilian casualties. People held banners and chanted slogans with police seen present at the rally.

Resident of Laghman province Ajab Gul said: “at least eight members of my family have been killed, and several others wounded during the bombardments. It was the USA who have been bombarding our village.”

According to reports, at least 13 civilians, including children, were killed in recent US airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan on March 10.

Last year, the United States stepped up military operations in Afghanistan to their highest levels since 2014, in an effort to restrain the growing Taliban presence in the area.