Military operation may have exceeded mandate

The deadly US attack on a hospital in Afghanistan, which US officials have called a "mistake", leaves open the possibility that the decision to open fire exceeded the authority under which US forces have operated since their combat mission ended nearly a year ago, officials say.

US officials have declined to discuss most circumstances of the attack in Kunduz that killed 22 civilians, since US and Afghan investigations are underway.

General John F. Campbell, the top US commander in Afghanistan, told a Senate committee on Tuesday that he is requiring that every US service member in Afghanistan be retrained on the circumstances in which US firepower can be used.