Dozens in Ghazni province gathered on Sunday to protest recent civilian casualties, which they claim were caused by a government forces operation in Khwaja Omari district.

The Khwaja Omari residents claimed that four civilians were killed Saturday night as the result of an airstrike in Deh Hajji village.

The protestors took the dead bodies to the governor’s office and to other government agencies to demand a “serious investigation."

According to the protestors, seven people were wounded as police fired on the demonstration in Ghazni city.

The Ministry of Defense said in a statement that 22 operations and 42 airstrikes were conducted in 18 provinces in the last 24 hours.

The ministry said 346 militants were killed in the operations and that 81 of them were killed in Khwaja Omari district as a result of airstrikes and operations.

Ghazni police said it is not clear yet if the civilians were killed by the airstrike or as the result of insurgent rockets.

Ghazni police also deny shooting at protesters.