Gen. David Petraeus said Friday that video evidence proves that a number of Taliban militants were killed in the controversial May 4 U.S. airstrike in Farah province, Afghanistan.

The bombing became the source of tensions between the United States and Afghanistan when it was learned that civilians also were killed.

In a segment aired Friday on National Public Radio’s "Morning Edition," Petraeus said that he had been briefed recently by the team assigned to investigate.

"There is indeed video from a B-1 bomber that very clearly shows bombs hitting individuals who are the Taliban, who are reacting to the movements of the Afghan and coalition forces on the ground," Petraeus told host Steve Inskeep.

Asked how he could be sure the individuals were Taliban, Petraeus replied:

"It’s a combination of intelligence that is then confirmed by this actual video."

Asked if the video would be released, Petraeus said no, but that it would likely be shown in some form during a DOD briefing.

"What it will prove, is that the targets of these different strikes were the Taliban," Petraeus told NPR. "What it does not prove, is that there were not civilians killed. I think we agree, actually, that there were civilians killed in this incident along — again — with a substantial number of Taliban."

Afghan officials, including President Hamid Karzai, put the death toll as high as 140 and say the strikes hit houses in two villages in which mostly women and children were hiding.

The U.S. military has acknowledged 20 to 35 civilians were among nearly 100 mostly Taliban and said the Taliban used the villagers as human shields.