Kabul , Afghanistan ( CNN ) -- A coalition commander offered his alliance 's `` sincere apologies '' Sunday for an airstrike that he said killed nine civilians in southern Afghanistan . Maj. Gen. John Toolan , the head of the International Security Assistance Force 's command in southwest Afghanistan , said his apology was being made `` on behalf of the coalition '' and its top leaders , including U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus . He pleaded with Afghans to not only forgive , but also to work with coalition forces in hopes of bolstering their security . `` I offer our heartfelt apologies to the families and friends of those killed , '' Toolan said in a statement . `` I ask that the Afghan people continue to trust and assist their security forces , so that together we can stop the senseless killing brought upon us by an enemy who wants to exploit the Afghan people through fear and violence . '' Earlier , Afghan and NATO officials said that Saturday 's attack in Helmand province killed a dozen children and two women . There was no immediate explanation for the disparity between this figure and the toll of nine civilians killed offered Sunday by Toolan , who also noted that a U.S. Marine was killed immediately before the strike . The strike provoked the ire of Afghan President Hamid Karzai , who strongly condemned the airstrike and insisted he was warning the U.S military and government `` for the last time '' on behalf of the Afghan people about civilian deaths . He called the operation a mistake , but offered a different death toll , saying 10 children , two women and two men were killed . According to Toolan 's statement , the strike occurred after coalition troops came under attack in Helmand 's Now Zad district , leading to the death of the American Marine . Five insurgents then moved into a compound , where they continued to fire , the ISAF commander said . An airstrike was then ordered on this building `` to neutralize the threat . '' Residents claimed that projectiles coming from a coalition helicopter hit two houses where women and children were staying , ISAF spokesman Daud Ahamadi had said earlier . `` Unfortunately , the compound the insurgents purposefully occupied was later discovered to house innocent civilians , '' Toolan said in his statement.. Even as a full investigation into the incident continues , the ISAF commander said , `` We will ensure we make amends to the families ( of those killed ) in accordance with Afghan culture . '' Helmand province , a Taliban stronghold that borders Pakistan , has been the scene of intense fighting this month since insurgents launched their so-called spring offensive . Anger in Afghanistan and Pakistan over civilian casualties has mounted in recent months following NATO airstrikes that have killed dozens along their shared border . In March , U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates offered a personal apology to Afghan President Karzai for the killings of nine boys in a helicopter attack targeting insurgents . The top coalition commander in Afghanistan has warned of a likely increase in high-profile attacks by insurgents looking to demonstrate their ability to strike . In a letter this month to ISAF forces , Petraeus said the attacks may increase the risk of civilian casualties and put Afghan and ISAF forces in difficult situations . CNN 's Larry Shaughnessy contributed to this story .
NEW : An ISAF commander offers his `` sincere apologies , '' vows compensation . " The Taliban have been fighting the U.S. and NATO forces for more than a decade. He says the strike hit a building where insurgents -- and civilians -- were . Afghanistan 's president warns the U.S. military and government `` for the last time '' Helmand province has been the scene of intense fighting this month .