US special ops knew Afghan site was hospital

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Associated Press has learned that American special operations analysts knew the Doctors without Borders facility in Kunduz was a hospital, but were gathering intelligence on it because they suspected it was being used by a Pakistani operative to coordinate Taliban activity.

It’s unclear whether commanders who unleashed an AC-130 gunship on the hospital on Oct. 3 – killing at least 22 patients and hospital staff – were aware that the site was a hospital or knew about the allegations of possible enemy activity. The Pentagon initially said the attack was to protect U.S. troops engaged in a firefight and has since said it was a mistake.

Doctors without Borders disputes that the hospital was being used by the Taliban for military purposes.

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