Tripoli, Libya (BuzzTab) – In a (rather justifying the evil kind of) statement passed late yesterday on Sunday June 19, 2011, NATO admitted the Libyan airstrike led to civilian deaths and house destructions.

Just hours before the NATO officials acknowledged civilian deaths, the Libyan government had accused NATO forces of bombing a residential neighborhood in the capital and killing dozens of civilians, in an incident likely to sow new doubts inside the alliance about its mission in the country.

The airstrike – which was most evident case yet of NATO bombing causing multiple civilian casualties – comes at a time when NATO is already under strain from a campaign that is taking more time and resources than it expected.

According to the NATO statement, a military missile site was the intended target of the air strikes but, unfortunately, it appeared one of the weapons did not strike that target.

“NATO regrets the loss of innocent civilian lives and takes great care in conducting strikes against a regime determined to use violence against its own citizens,” said commander of NATO’s operations over Libya Lieutenant-General Charles Bouchard.

“Although we are still determining the specifics of this event, indications are that a weapons system failure may have caused this incident,” he continued.

Libyan Foreign Minister Abdelati Obeidi said, “The NATO strike is a pathetic attempt to break the spirit of the people of Tripoli and allow small numbers of terrorists to cause instability and disorder in the peaceful city. We will never forgive, we will never forget, we are here; on our land, united with our leader, ready for peace and ready for the fight for our freedom and honor”.