During the raid in the eastern province of Logar, troops from both countries came under fire while going after a local Taliban leader holed up in a village home. They fought back, and the Americans called in an airstrike. Only later did they discover that in addition to insurgents, they killed women, children and old men who had gathered there for a wedding party.

Presidential spokesman Aimal Faizi said that President Hamid Karzai met with investigators and concluded that U.S. troops had called in the aircraft without coordinating with Afghan units -- thus, according to Kabul's interpretation, violating the terms of its agreements with Washington.

Raids on villages, which frequently occur at night, have been a major strain on Karzai's relationship with the international military coalition. Karzai says they put civilians at risk of injury or death. Military officials say such operations are key to capturing and killing Taliban leaders.