Kabul, Afghanistan ? Airstrikes by NATO helicopters hunting Taliban fighters ripped through three dried mud homes in southern Afghanistan as villagers slept early Wednesday. At least nine civilians were killed, including women and children, said residents and the provincial governor.

Shellshocked, angry villagers in Ashogho condemned the attack, which set back NATO’s hopes of winning local support for their tough counterinsurgency campaign. The airstrikes came about the same time a rocket struck a house in a village to the west, reportedly killing 13 people.

“I am not Taliban! We are not Taliban!” Gulab Shah shouted by the rubble of the ruined houses in Ashogho.

Kandahar provincial Gov. Asadullah Khalid said it appeared that no Taliban fighters were in the village at the time of the airstrikes, which left giant pieces of mud packed with straw scattered along Ashogho’s narrow lane.