Libyan officials say NATO is responsible for the death of two children and seven adults in recent airstrike. (credit flickr/برق | B.R.Q)

The alleged NATO airstrike happened amidst battles between Moammar Gaddafi forces and the rebels in Tripoli. News of this is likely to trigger reaction from those who have already shown concerns of continuing U.S. involvement in the area.

Though without substantial evidence, NATO officials have accepted the possibility of the organization's involvement in the airstrike.

"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 Canadian commander, Lt. Gen. Charles Bouchard of NATO. 

From the New York Times: 

The fighting on each of the three fronts has been mired in a back-and-forth pattern without much movement for about five days, and Qaddafi forces have been using civilian vehicles like pickup trucks, just as the rebels do, in an apparent effort to confuse NATO.

In this case, NATO said in its statement, its surveillance had spotted the column of military vehicles, which included tanks, in an area where Qaddafi forces “had recently been operating.” The statement added, “In a particularly complex and fluid battle scenario, it was assessed these vehicles were a threat to civilians.”

Libyan officials, despite any proof, say NATO is responsible for 800 civilians lives taken so far in the conflict. 

From the Washington Times: 

“We will never forgive, we will never forget,” Libyan Foreign Minister Abdulati Alobidi told reporters Sunday afternoon. He said the recent NATO bombings ought to “ignite a global jihad against the oppressive, criminal West.”

NATO in response has said their airstrikes have saved countless lives by quelling deadly forces in the nation.  

Furthermore, the organization has released a statement saying they take civilian causalities very seriously and will further investigate the event. 

UPDATE: 

NATO has released a statement acknowledging the civilian causalities in Tripoli stirke. 

From NATO: 

NATO says that a military missile site was the intended target of air strikes in Tripoli last night. However, it appears that one weapon did not strike the intended target and that there may have been a weapons system failure which may have caused a number of civilian casualties.