Friday, May 17, 2019

U.S. Airstrike Accidentally Kills 17 Afghan Policemen

FILE PHOTO © Reuters / Parwiz

Business Insider: The US accidentally killed more than a dozen Afghan policemen in an airstrike after a 'miscommunication'

* A firefight broke out in Afghanistan's Helmand province after local police attempted to tear down a Taliban flag.
* Officials from the NATO-led mission Resolute Support say Afghan officials called in an airstrike, telling US forces that the area was clear of friendlies, but it was not clear, and the US strike killed as many as 17 local policemen, Stars and Stripes reported.

A US airstrike conducted Thursday in Afghanistan killed more than a dozen local policemen and wounded just as many.

When a firefight broke out between the Taliban and the local police force after the latter attempted to take down a Taliban flag in southern Helmand province, Afghan forces on the ground called in an airstrike, telling the US that the area was clear of friendlies, Stars and Stripes reported, citing Resolute Support.

"Unfortunately, they were not, and a tragic accident resulted," the NATO mission in Afghanistan explained in its statement. "We're examining the miscommunication to ensure it is not repeated. We regret this tragic loss of life of our partners and are committed to improvement every day with every mission."

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More News On Yesterday's U.S. Airstrike That Accidentally Killed 17 Afghan Policemen

US airstrike, coordinated with Afghans, accidentally killed as many as 17 policemen fighting Taliban -- Stars and Stripes
In southern Afghanistan, U.S. airstrikes kill up to 18 police officers -- The Washington Post
Officials: US Airstrike Kills 17 Afghan Policemen in Helmand -- VOA
'Tragic accident': US air attack kills 8 policemen in Afghanistan -- Afghanistan
NATO-led airstrike reportedly kills 17 Afghan police officers ‘by mistake’ -- RT

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