Top U.S. officials realize the accidental killing of civilians in Afghanistan by the U.S. military has repeatedly put America’s war strategy at risk, the Christian Science Monitor reported.

American commanders have made efforts to minimize civilian casualties, but a recent United Nations report says they haven't been entirely successful. Civilian deaths and injuries in Afghanistan rose by 20 percent between the spring of 2010 and the spring of 2011.

Even during training, officials are designing scenarios to ensure that troops exercise caution in dealing with civilians on the battlefield.

They're also relying on the latest technology during real-life scenarios. For example, in the headquarters building of the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group, airmen play a video of a compound that houses insurgents. They watch the compound, make sure it is clear of innocents, and then fire a laser-guided bomb to kill the insurgents.

But after the bomb is launched, a civilian travels into the area. Operators are then able to direct the bomb away from the civilian where it goes off without harming the innocent bystander.

Read more about how Afghanistan civilian deaths are changing the way the U.S. fights by The Christian Science Monitor.

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