Pentagon Chief Robert Gates hints that his forces would press ahead with their controversial airstrikes across the war-ravaged Afghanistan.

Gates said in Washington on Thursday that an influx of more than 21,000 US troops would not reduce the demand for airstrikes across the conflict-torn country.

"We need to protect our troops," Gates said while explaining his review of air operations which have frequently led to civilians' causalities across the conflict-torn country.

He insisted newly appointed military commanders in Afghanistan would still require air power to protect US-led NATO forces from the insurgents.

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Earlier on Monday, Gates fired the top American commander in Kabul, Gen. David McKiernan, and replaced him with Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, a veteran of the shadowy world of special operations.

The Pentagon is also sending Lt. Gen. David Rodriguez to Afghanistan to oversee day-to-day military operations, duplicating the command structure long used in Iraq.

However, Gates confessed that anti-American sentiments were rising across the volatile region and a policy change was required in this regard.

"But if we're on offense, that's where I think we need to take a closer look at the operational concept and our planning and how we're going forward with this in a way to minimize the chance of innocent civilian casualties."

The remarks come after nearly 150 civilians including 95 children were killed two weeks ago when US warplanes dropped bombs on two villages in the Bala Baluk district in the western province of Farah.

Human rights and medical officials also accused the US forces of using white phosphorus during the lethal strikes.

Medics told Press TV that some of those wounded in the attack have unusual burns which could have been caused by the flesh-eating chemical -- white phosphorus.

The attack also sparked days of protests in Kabul and other major cities across Afghanistan.

President Hamid Karzai has demanded a halt to Washington's airstrikes in his country following the deadly incident.

The killing of civilians by US-led forces continues seven and half years after the US invaded the country to allegedly destroy Taliban and al-Qaeda and bring stability to the volatile region.