Isaf forces have accidentally shot dead two boys in southern Uruzgan province during a military operation this week, the coalition said in a statement apologising for the mistake.
"It is with deep regret that the International Security Assistance Force announces that its forces were responsible for the unintended death of two young Afghan civilians during an operation Feb. 28 in Shahid-e Hasas District, Uruzgan Province," the statement from the Nato-led forces said.
"I offer my personal apology and condolences to the family of the boys who were killed," it quoted Isaf commander Gen. Joseph Dunford saying. "I am committed to ensuring we do the right thing for the families of those we harmed, as well as for the community in which they lived. We take full responsibility for this tragedy."
Isaf said the boys were killed when the coalition forces fired at what they thought were insurgent forces.
A joint Afghan-Isaf investigation team visited the location today and met with local leaders, Isaf said.
It comes just days after President Hamid Karzai banned US special forces from operating in central Maidan Wardak province following reports of abuse, torture and murder of civilians by Afghan forces subordinate to the US troops.
Reports that the boys were killed by helicopter gunships could not be confirmed. Karzai last month also banned Afghan forces from calling for air support during military operations in an attempt to minimise civilian casualties.
The airpower ban came after as many as 10 civilians were killed by an airstrike targeting Taliban insurgents who were among the civilians in Kunar province.