General limits night raids after Afghan anger over civilian deaths

THE commander of United States and Nato forces in Afghanistan has issued new rules to limit the use of controversial night raids, which have been blamed for countless civilian deaths and plummeting popular support for foreign forces since 2001.

"The first and most preferable course of action is to explore all other feasible options before effecting a night raid that targets compounds and residences," General Stanley McChrystal said yesterday.

The new directive doesn't ban night raids, which it describes as an essential weapon in the coalition arsenal, but it recognises the propaganda victories the raids often hand their opponents.

"If we do not conduct ourselves appropriately during night raids, we cede credibility to insurgents, who can exploit our insensitivities in a persuasion campaign," it warns.

US and Nato forces often respond with "overwhelming force" when their soldiers are shot at during night raids, and the directive recognises a man's right to defend his family. It says: "Instinctive responses to defend his home and family are sometimes interpreted as insurgent acts, with tragic results. Even when there is no damage or injuries, Afghans can feel deeply violated and dishonoured, making winning their support that much more difficult."

Gen McChrystal said: "Despite their effectiveness and operational value, night raids come at a steep cost in terms of the perceptions of the Afghan people. The myths, distortions and propaganda arising out of night raids often have little to do with the reality – few Afghans have been directly affected by night raids, but nearly every Afghan I talk to mentions them as the single greatest irritant."

The latest move come days after The Scotsman revealed eight schoolchildren had been among ten civilians killed in a botched night raid in eastern Afghanistan. Nato originally claimed the victims had been part of a terrorist bomb-making cell and that Nato troops had been shot at.

It subsequently admitted the dead children were not who they thought they were, and a senior source confessed they hadn't "busted a major ring".

The operation sparked violent protests across Afghanistan, with schoolchildren as young as ten chanting "Death to America". Older protesters burned US flags and effigies of Barack Obama.