At least 12 civilians were killed in airstrikes in the northern province of Faryab on Saturday evening, member of Faryab Provincial Council, Sibghatullah Selab, said on Sunday. 

Security officials have not confirmed the casualties but confirmed that the airstrikes were conducted in Garziwan district of Faryab.

Mr. Selab said the victims were members of two families and eight children are also among those killed in the airstrikes.

He said the airstrikes began at 11 pm on Saturday and targeted an area where the Taliban militants had gathered as they were under pressure by Afghan forces.

He said the houses which were hit by the airstrikes are located 200 meters far from the center of Garziwan district.

Meanwhile, the 209 Shaheen Corps said in a statement that 47 Taliban fighters were killed in the airstrikes and ground operations by Afghan forces in Garziwan district over the past 24 hours.

A spokesman for Ministry of Defense, Fawad Aman, rejected the claims of civilian casualties in Garziwan airstrikes and said a probe team has been assigned to investigate the incident. 

He said the airstrikes targeted a gathering of the Taliban in the area. He added that more than 40 fighters of the group were killed in the airstrikes.

The provincial governor also rejected civilian casualties in the airstrikes.