New Zealand Special Air Service (SAS) soldiers were part of a raid on a building in Kabul, Afghanistan in which two local men were killed but the patrol was acting in self defence, the New Zealand Defence Force says.
The Times newspaper reported the NZ SAS led the surprise attackon a factory in the capital when the two Afghan workers were killed and two others left with life-threatening injuries.
It said the raid had angered the Afghan Government because it was carried out without its approval and two NZ soldiers, identified as the unit commander "Sean and his deputy 'James'", had since apologised to the factory owners.
But NZDF said a joint Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) patrol which included New Zealanders was on an authorised operation in Kabul on December 24, following up a credible threat to attack the US Embassy.
Intelligence reports indicated there were two vehicles parked at a downtown building thought to be loaded with explosives and the forces were told to approach cautiously and to announce their identities, NZDF said.
The patrol identified themselves in both Pashto and English when they entered the target area.
NZDF said the soldiers "came under small-arms fire from armed security guards and the patrol was forced to act in self defence, killing two of the guards".
The patrol cleared the building and removed fifteen people, including two wounded. One man, described as being among the initial shooters, surrendered once troops reached the roof of the building.
A large number of weapons, including the small-arms used by the men who fired on the patrol, were found during the operation, NZDF said.
ISAF confirmed proper protocols and rules of engagement were correctly followed.
Afghan authorities and ISAF have launched an investigation and NZDF said it would be closely following its progress.
The New Zealand Defence Force did not say how many New Zealanders were involved.
