Obama Says U.S. Will 'Work Closely' with Afghan Government in Doctors Without Borders Attack

President Barack Obama announced in a statement Saturday evening that the U.S. would "work closely" with the Afghan government to investigate an airstrike that may have accidentally struck a Doctors Without Borders hospital.

It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the attack, but the U.S. military announced early Saturday morning that an airstrike in Kuduz, Afghanistan may have accidentally damaged a hospital in the city. The international charity organization said it believes the attack came from "international Coalition forces."

Injured Doctors Without Borders staff are seen after explosions near their hospital in the northern Afghan city of Kunduz, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015. (Image source: Médecins Sans Frontières via AP)

"The Department of Defense has launched a full investigation, and we will await the results of that inquiry before making a definitive judgment as to the circumstances of this tragedy," Obama said in a statement Saturday evening. "I have asked the Department of Defense to keep me apprised of the investigation and expect a full accounting of the facts and circumstances."

At least 19 people died during the attack that occurred around 2:08 a.m. (2138 GMT). The organization said the hospital was helping approximately 100 patients at the time of the attack, and 30 people were still missing afterward.

Seven patients from the intensive care unit — including three children — were reported dead, and a total of 37 people were injured.

Obama's statement reiterated Defense Secretary Ash Carter's statement from earlier Saturday who promised a "full investigation into the tragic incident is underway in coordination with the Afghan government."

"The area has been the scene of intense fighting the last few days," Carter said. "U.S. forces in support of Afghan Security Forces were operating nearby, as were Taliban fighters."

The president of the organization blasted the attacks as Doctors Without Borders called for an independent investigation.

"This attack is abhorrent and a grave violation of International Humanitarian Law," Meinie Nicolai said. "We demand total transparency from Coalition forces. We cannot accept that this horrific loss of life will simply be dismissed as ‘collateral damage.'"