Two Israeli Commandos Shot Dead In Friendly Fire Incident

Undated photographs of Maj. Itamar Elharar, left, and Maj. Ofek Aharon, who were killed in a friendly fire incident outside their base in the Jordan Valley on January 12, 2022. (Israel Defense Forces) 

Times of Israel: Two IDF commando officers killed in friendly fire incident at West Bank base 

Maj. Ofek Aharon, Maj. Itamar Elharar crept up on another soldier during patrol, thinking he was a suspect; he thought he was under attack and shot them 

Two officers from a commando unit were killed in a so-called friendly fire accident at a base in the Jordan Valley in the West Bank late Wednesday night, the Israel Defense Forces said. 

According to the military, the officers — both company commanders in the elite Egoz unit — were performing a patrol at roughly 11 p.m. around their base, known as Nabi Mussa, just north of the Dead Sea after a training exercise. 

As they were walking, they spotted a person they thought was a suspicious figure, but was in fact another officer.  

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Two Israeli Commandos Shot Dead In Friendly Fire Incident  

Two IDF officers killed in friendly-fire incident -- Jerusalem Post  

Two Israeli soldiers killed by friendly fire -- ABC News/AP  

Two Israeli officers killed in ‘friendly fire’ at West Bank base -- Al Jazeera  

Israeli commandos shot dead in ‘mistaken identification’ -- RT

U.S. Navy SEAL And SAS Soldier Killed By Friendly Fire Last Year On An Underground Mission In Syria

Sergeant Matt Tonroe & Master Sgt Jonathan J Dunbar both died in the blast in Manbij, northern Syria. Composite: MoD/US military

The 33-year-old died last year alongside US commando Master Sergeant Jonathan J Dunbar in the blast in Manbij during the joint mission

Daily Mail: REVEALED: US Navy SEAL accidentally killed himself and British soldier when his grenade unintentionally detonated during undercover mission in Syria

* US Navy Seal Master Sergeant Jonathan J Dunbar, 36, and British Special Air Service Sniper Matt Tonroe, 33, died in March 2018 during a mission in Syria
* At first their death was reported as a roadside bomb explosion
* An investigation concluded that they died after an explosive in Dunbar's possession detonated, killing them both and injuring five others
* The UK's Ministry of Defence revealed the report conclusions on Saturday
* Tonroe, of Manchester, was embedded in Seal Team 6, the same unit that killed Osama Bin Laden, and was the first British person to die fighting terror in Syria
* Dunbar, of Austin, Texas, joined the army in May 2005

A US Navy Seal unintentionally killed himself and a British soldier while fighting ISIS in Syria after he accidentally detonated a grenade, the UK's Ministry of Defense revealed Saturday.

US Navy Seal Master Sergeant Jonathan J Dunbar, 36, was killed in March 2018 alongside British Special Air Service Sniper Matt Tonroe, 33, during a joint undercover mission to kill extremists in Manbij in northern Syria.

At first it was reported that they both died in a roadside bomb explosion but a new report revealed they died after 'explosives' carried by allied American forces detonated.

Tonroe, of Manchester, UK, was embedded in Seal Team 6, the same unit that killed Osama Bin Laden, and became the first British person to die fighting terrorists in war-torn Syria.

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U.S. Navy SEAL And SAS Soldier Killed By Friendly Fire Last Year On An Underground Mission In Syria

UK soldier fighting ISIS in Syria was killed by friendly fire, not roadside bomb -- Military times/AP
SAS soldier who died in Syria killed by friendly fire, inquiry finds -- The Independent
SAS soldier was killed by friendly fire, inquiry finds -- The Guardian
SAS sniper, who was first British soldier to die fighting Isil, was killed by friendly fire -- The Telegraph
SAS soldier who was the first Briton to die in Syria fighting ISIS was ACCIDENTALLY killed by US Navy Seal grenade - probe FINALLY concludes more than a year after his death was blamed on IED -- Daily Mail
British SAS soldier who died in Syria was killed by friendly 'accidental detonation,' not IED like Pentagon initially claimed -- Task & Purpose
British soldier Matt Tonroe 'killed by American friendly fire,' MOD reveals -- Yahoo News

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

Did India Shoot Down Its Own Mi-17 Helicopter in Kashmir During Last Month's India-Pakistan Air Clash?

An Indian soldier next to the wreckage of Indian Air Force's helicopter in Kashmir February 27, 2019 © Reuters/Danish Ismail

IBTimes: Did India's own missile shoot down Mi17 helicopter in Budgam crash?

Investigations are on whether the Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems were turned on that could have averted the Budgam helicopter crash.

A court of inquiry has been set up to ascertain whether an Indian missile shot down the Mi17 helicopter in Budgam district in Jammu and Kashmir on February 27 killing six Indian Air Force personnel and a civilian. The Mi17 helicopter was hovering over Kashmir skies when India and Pakistan were locked in an aerial stand-off had crashed minutes after the Pakistan jets crossed over the Line of Control into the Indian territory to target military bases.

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More News On Reports That India Shot Down Its Own Mi-17 Helicopter in Kashmir During Last Month's India-Pakistan Air Clash

Budgam: Indian missile fired before Mi17 V5 chopper crash -- Economic Times
Did India Shoot Down Its Own Mi-17 Helicopter in Kashmir During India-Pakistan Air Clash? -- Eurasian Times
India may have shot down its own helicopter in Kashmir thinking it was Pakistan’s -- Samaa TV
Indian Missile Mistakenly Hit its Own Chopper in Conflict with Pakistan - Report -- Sputnik
India blew up its own helicopter while trying to target Pakistani jets, killing 7 – report -- RT

U.S. Forces Destroy Roadside Afghan Army Base In 'Self-Defense' Airstrikes

An F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 555th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron takes off from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Aug. 22, 2017. (U.S. Air Force photo/Benjamin Gonsier)

CNN: US forces kill five Afghan soldiers in 'self-defense' airstrikes

US forces launched two "self-defense" airstrikes near an Afghan National Army check point in the Uruzgan province on Wednesday, according to a coalition spokesman.

The Afghan government issued a statement saying that five Afghan soldiers were killed and 10 were wounded in the strikes -- numbers the coalition is also accepting, an official told CNN.

US and coalition officials told CNN that the strikes were launched Wednesday morning local time after a US-Afghan convoy came under fire from friendly forces positioned near the check point. No US forces were killed during the incident.

"The US launched a precision airstrike near an Afghan National Army check point on Wednesday after Afghan and US forces came under fire and requested air support," according to Lt. Ubon Mendie, a spokesman for the US forces based in Afghanistan.

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More News On U.S. Forces Launching Airstrikes In Self Defense Against Afghan Soldiers

Afghans Report Firefight Involving US Troops -- Military.com/AP
Friendly fire between Afghan, American forces leaves five dead -- Stars and Stripes
US airstrikes wipe out Afghan Army base, say officials -- Indian Express/New York Times

An In-Depth Look At How Five U.S. Soldiers Were Killed By 'Friendly Fire' In Afghanistan

CBS: Why were five U.S. soldiers killed by an American bomber in Afghanistan?

A classified report blames human error for the deadliest friendly fire incident of the Afghan War involving U.S. soldiers. Soldiers who were there say that's wrong

On this Veteran's Day weekend, as the Trump White House plans to send more troops and planes into Afghanistan, we bring you a cautionary tale of how five U.S. soldiers -- including two Green Berets -- died there on the night of June 9th, 2014.

The Pentagon concluded the deaths were an "avoidable" accident -- known by the contradictory phrase "friendly fire." It was the deadliest such incident involving U.S. fatalities in 16 long years of ongoing war in Afghanistan. It wasn't gunfire that killed the U.S. soldiers. It was a pair of 500-pound bombs dropped right on top of them by a U.S. warplane.

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WNU Editor: Friendly fire is a fact of life in all war zones. What I find amazing about the U.S. experience in both Iraq and Afghanistan is that while "friendly fire" incidences where U.S. soldiers were killed and wounded have occurred many times .... it did not (and is not) at the high rate that I expected.

Scores Of Afghan Police Officers Killed In Errant U.S. Air Strike

DW: US airstrike in Helmand kills Afghan police in friendly-fire incident

At least 16 Afghan police officers have been killed in friendly fire following a botched US airstrike over Helmand. Afghan forces have been waging deadly battles to retake the Taliban-held controlled province.

The Helmand governor's office on Saturday morning confirmed the death toll following an inspection of the struck compound in the Gereshk District.

Two more Afghan officers were wounded in Friday's strike.

NATO's mission in Afghanistan issued a statement, saying: "During a US-supported (Afghan security) operation, aerial fires resulted in the deaths of the friendly Afghan forces who were gathered in a compound."

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More News On Errant U.S. Air Strike Killing 16 Afghan Police Officers

Afghanistan: 16 police killed in US friendly-fire air strike -- BBC
Errant US Drone Strike Kills 15 Afghan Troops -- VOA
US Airstrike Accidentally Kills 16 Afghan Police -- Military.com/Stars and Stripes
U.S. Air Strike Accidentally Kills 16 Afghan Security Personnel -- RFE
US strike kills 16 Afghan policemen in Helmand province -- AFP
U.S. airstrike kills at least 9 Afghan police; personnel may have been mistaken for Taliban -- Washington Post
At least 15 Afghan police officers killed in friendly fire airstrike -- UPI
Over a dozen Afghan forces killed in US ‘friendly fire’ airstrike – police -- RT

Pentagon Says Two U.S. Army Rangers May Have Been Killed By Friendly Fire In Afghanistan

Washington Times: Friendly fire may have caused deaths of Army Rangers in eastern Afghanistan

Two Army Rangers killed in an Islamic State ambush in eastern Afghanistan’s violent Nangarhar province on Thursday may have been the victims of friendly fire, according to the Defense Department.

Sgts. Joshua Rodgers and Cameron Thomas with 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, were killed during a night raid against the suspected hideout of Abdul Hasib, the alleged emir of the terror group’s Afghan cell known as Islamic State in Iraq and Syria - Khorosan Province, or ISIS-K, in Nangarhar’s Achin district.

American commanders in country are “investigating the possibility that the two Rangers were accidentally killed by friendly fire during the more than three-hour fight,” a statement from U.S. Forces-Afghanistan said. Neither the Pentagon or command officials in Kabul provided any additional details on the friendly fire incident or ongoing inquiry.

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More News On Reports That Two U.S. Army Rangers May Have Been Killed By Friendly Fire In Afghanistan

Army Rangers killed in Afghanistan were possible victims of friendly fire -- Army Times
Friendly fire may have killed 2 Army Rangers in Afghanistan -- FOX News/AP
Friendly fire may have killed U.S. troops in Afghanistan: Pentagon -- Reuters
Friendly Fire May Have Led to Deaths of 2 U.S. Army Rangers in Afghanistan -- NBC
2 Army Rangers may have been killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan -- ABC News
Pentagon: Friendly fire may have killed 2 Army Rangers in Afghanistan -- USA Today
Pentagon: US soldiers possibly killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan -- CNN
Pentagon probing whether Army Rangers killed by friendly fire -- The Hill
Pictured: Two Army Rangers, 22 and 23, killed in a raid on ISIS compound in Afghanistan who the Pentagon believes may have been hit by friendly fire -- Daily Mail
Friendly fire inquiry after US soldiers die battling IS -- BBC

U.S. Commander: Russia, Syria Bombed U.S.-Backed Fighters In Syria

A man rides a vehicle near damaged buildings in the northern Syrian town of al-Bab, Syria, February 28, 2017. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi

Reuters: Russia, Syria bombed U.S.-backed fighters in Syria: U.S. general

Russian and Syrian aircraft bombed positions held by the U.S.-backed Syrian Arab Coalition near the Syrian town of al Bab on Tuesday, inflicting casualties, the top U.S. commander in Iraq said on Wednesday.

"Yesterday, we had some Russian aircraft and (Syrian) regime aircraft bomb some villages that I believe they thought were held by ISIS, yet they were actually - on the ground - were some of our Syrian Arab coalition forces," Army Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend told a Pentagon news briefing, using an acronym for the Islamic State militant group.

The villages were close to al Bab and about 15 or 20 km (10 to 12 miles) from Manbij city, Townsend said.

The Russian Defense Ministry was not immediately available for comment.

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More News On Reports That Russia And Syria Bombed U.S.-Backed Fighters In Syria

General says Russia nearly bombed US forces in Syria in ISIS fight -- FOX News
Russian Airstrikes Hit US-Trained Force in Syria -- Military.com
Pentagon: Russian jets bombed U.S.-backed fighters in Syria -- Washington Examiner
Russian and Syrian jets attack US-trained SDF forces 'by mistake' -- RUDAW
Russia Ceases Bombing US Allies in Syria After Deconfliction Call - Coalition -- Sputnik

U.S. Friendly Fire Killed U.S. Trained Rebels During Heavy Fighting In Syria In May

© Goran Tomasevic / Reuters

FOX News/WSJ: Pentagon investigating friendly fire that killed Syrian allies

The U.S. military bombed a Syrian rebel unit it had trained and equipped in a friendly-fire incident in late May, prompting an internal investigation and raising questions about renewed Pentagon efforts to build local forces to battle Islamic State.

The military didn’t disclose the incident until asked about it by The Wall Street Journal. It is the most serious setback to date for the Pentagon’s recent efforts to work with Sunni Arab forces in northern Syria.

The Pentagon said it conducted a series of airstrikes in and around the Syrian town of Ma’ra on May 27 and May 28. The Pentagon-backed Mutasim Brigade said one of the airstrikes hit the brigade.

A statement issued by the U.S. military at the time said three strikes were carried out near Ma’ra that “struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL tactical vehicles and an ISIL vehicle,” using the Pentagon’s preferred acronym for Islamic State.

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Update: US bomb allied anti-ISIS forces in Syria, Pentagon confirms (RT)

WNU Editor: If the Wall Street Journal never asked this specific question .... we would still not know about this incident today. You have to wonder what else is out there that (also) needs to be disclosed.

Iraq Government Claim: 30 Iraqi Soldiers Killed In US Air Force Strike, 20 Others Injured

Archive photo © Kai Pfaffenbach / Reuters

Sputnik: Over 30 Iraqi Soldiers Killed in US Air Force Strike, 20 Others Injured

At least 30 Iraqi soldiers were killed and 20 others injured in US air strike, Hakim al-Zamili, the head of Iraqi parliament's Security and Defense Committee said.

"Thirty soldiers from the Iraqi Army's 55 brigade were killed and 20 were injured in a US airstrike on the town of al-Naimiya in the al-Fallujah province," al-Zamili's statement obtained by Sputnik reads.

The politician stated that he demanded "the [Iraqi] prime minister to conduct an investigation into the airstrike against the 55 brigade, which had previously had huge success in the fight against Daesh terrorists."

Update: 30+ Iraqi soldiers killed, 20 injured after US airstrike - Iraqi MP cited by Sputnik (RT)

WNU Editor: Only Russian media is carrying this story, and the Pentagon is denying that a "friendly fire" incident occurred .... Reports of US Airstrike Killing Iraqi Soldiers ‘Not True’ - Pentagon (Sputnik).

U.S. Air Strike Kills 10 Afghan Soldiers In Friendly Fire Incident

News.com.au: US helicopters strike checkpoint, killing 10 Afghan troops in ‘friendly fire’ attack

AN AIRSTRIKE by US troops has killed up to 10 Afghan soldiers at an army checkpoint in a Taliban-infested province south of Kabul, one of the deadliest episodes of “friendly fire” from foreign forces in recent years.

The early morning raid in Baraki Barak district of Logar province comes as coalition forces increase air strikes on potential militant targets despite a drawdown of NATO forces after 13 years of war.

The bombing marked the second such incident in the area since last December when a NATO air strike killed five civilians and wounded six others.

“At 6am today, two US helicopters attacked a checkpoint in Baraki Barak,” district governor Mohammad Rahim Amin told AFP.

“The checkpoint caught fire ... and 10 Afghan army soldiers were killed,” he added, revising down his earlier toll of 14.

More News On Today's Friendly Fire Incident that Killed Ten Afghan Soldiers

Report: U.S. airstrike kills eight Afghan soldiers -- Washington Post
Friendly Fire From US Helicopters Kills Afghan Troops, Officials Say -- NYT
NATO Strike Kills 8 Afghan Troops in Apparent Friendly-Fire Incident -- NBC
U.S. Airstrike Kills Seven in Afghanistan -- WSJ
Afghan Soldiers Killed by US 'Friendly Fire' -- VICE News

U.S. Air Force B-1B Pilots Responsible For 'Friendly Fire' Incident Return To Duty

A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer supersonic bomber flies over northern Iraq after conducting air strikes in Syria against ISIL targets September 27, 2014. REUTERS/Handout

Washington Times: Air Force B-1B pilots who dropped bombs on U.S. soldiers return to cockpit

No criminal charges despite investigation that found startling deficiencies

The Air Force has returned to flight duty the four B-1B crew members who dropped two bombs that killed five U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan in June — the deadliest “friendly fire” incident in the long war.

None of the Air Force or Green Beret troops directly involved in the accidental bombing has been relieved of duty or faced criminal charges, despite an investigation that found startling deficiencies.

U.S. Central Command’s official investigation of the incident found that the four fliers — two pilots and two weapons officers — did not realize the bomber’s high-definition targeting — or “SNIPER” — pod wasn’t capable of detecting the infrared strobes worn by the soldiers.

WNU Editor: Everything that could have gone wrong did .... but here is the part of the article that caught my attention ....

.... Former pilots say the deaths never would have happened if a low-flying A-10 Thunderbolt had been dispatched that night, because its pilots know how to use night vision goggles and would have been able to see the “friendly” strobes.

Friendly Fire Deaths Caused By Defense Budget Cuts?

Two U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets of Strike Fighter Squadron 31 fly a combat patrol over Afghanistan, Dec. 15, 2008. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Aaron Allmon

EXCLUSIVE: Budget Cuts, Errant B-1 Bomber Blamed In Deadly ‘Friendly Fire’ Accident In Afghanistan -- Washington Times

The “friendly fire” airstrike that killed five American soldiers in Afghanistan on June 9 is the first known case of a battlefield catastrophe that can be linked to automatic defense spending cuts that greatly curtailed prewar training.

A review of the worst American fratricide in the long Afghanistan War also shows that the military’s official investigation faults a Green Beret commander, an Air Force air controller and the four-man crew on the B-1B bomber that conducted the errant strike.

But the investigation, headed by an Air Force general, does not question the use of a strategic bomber for close air support, even though experts say the tragedy illustrates why the big plane is misplaced in that role.

The Washington Times has reviewed the investigation and interviewed knowledgeable sources to compile a picture of the doomed operation in southern Afghanistan’s Zabul province, as well as the political and military missteps that precipitated it. Key among them, according to defense experts, was the use of the strategic bomber.

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My Comment: I always remember what former U.S. Defense Secretary Rumsfeld once said .... you go to war with what you have. Could these crews have been trained better ... yes. Was a B-1 bomber suitable for this attack ... probably not. Would more training have prevented this .... probably. But in the end .... I hate to say it .... "shit happens".

'Friendly Fire' Bombing By A B-1 That Killed 5 U.S. Soldiers In Afghanistan Is Blamed On Poor Communications

A B-1B Lancer similar to this one dropped two bombs on a ridgeline where five American soldiers and one Afghan soldier were located. All were killed in the friendly fire incident in June.(Photo: Master Sgt. Ben Bloker, U.S. Air Force)

Report: Bombs Killed U.S. Soldiers After Location Mix-Up -- USA Today

A friendly fire incident that killed five American soldiers and one Afghan soldier in June

was caused by failures from the "key members" of the ground team

who called in an airstrike from a B-1B Lancer, according to an accident investigation report released Thursday.

A team of U.S. and Afghan soldiers was providing security for the Afghan runoff elections on June 9 in the area of Arghandab when one of the teams came under attack. During the attack, key leaders, including an Air Force joint terminal attack controller and the ground force commander, mixed up friendly and enemy locations and incorrectly believed that the bomber's targeting system could identify friendly locations.

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Update #1: Mistaken US bombing that killed 5 Americans blamed on miscommunication -- FOX News/AP
Update #2: Report: B-1B bombs killed U.S. soldiers after location mix-up -- Marine Times

My Comment: Our prayers are with the families and loved ones.

5 U.S. Special Operations Soldiers Killed By 'Friendly Fire' In Afghanistan

Five 'U.S. Soldiers' Killed By Friendly Fire In Southern Afghanistan, Say Local Officials -- Daily Mail

* Deaths on Monday worst single accident since helicopter crash on April 26
* Coalition officials yet to give cause of deaths or nationalities of victims
* Deaths occurred in southern Afghanistan, coming as Isaf force winds down
* Senior Afghan sources say attack helicopters 'hit the wrong people'

Five Nato service members have been killed in an apparent friendly fire incident in southern Afghanistan, the international coalition says.

Nato did not give details of the attack or the nationality of the soldiers. Coalition policy is for home countries to identify their military dead.

A spokeswoman for the UK's Ministry of Defence said they were not British personnel. Most of the forces operating in the area are from the United States.

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More News On 5 U.S. Special Operations Soldiers Killed By 'Friendly Fire' In Afghanistan

‘Friendly Fire’ Strike Kills 5 Special Operations Soldiers in Afghanistan -- New York Times
Five U.S. troops killed in Afghan friendly-fire incident: police -- Reuters
NATO says 5 service members killed in Afghanistan -- AP
Possible "friendly-fire" leaves 5 U.S. troops dead in southern Afghanistan -- CBS/AP
Five Nato Troops Die In Afghanistan -- BBC
'Friendly fire' kills five American service members in Afghanistan -- CNN
5 American Troops Killed in Afghanistan -- VOA
Five Nato troops killed in southern Afghanistan -- The Guardian
5 American soldiers killed in Afghanistan in possible friendly fire incident -- FOX News
Five Coalition Troops Killed by Friendly Fire in Afghanistan -- WSJ
5 Americans allegedly killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan -- RT

NATO Airstrike Accidentally Kills Five Afghan Soldiers

Five Afghan Soldiers Killed In Nato Strike -- BBC

At least five soldiers from the Afghan army have been killed in a Nato air strike in eastern Afghanistan.

They were killed in the early hours of Thursday in the Charkh district of Logar province.

Nato confirmed the "unfortunate incident" and said it was investigating the circumstances behind the attack.

Correspondents say it is likely to anger President Hamid Karzai, who has been deeply critical of international air strikes that have killed civilians.

He has previously ordered all coalition air strikes to end unless previously cleared by the Afghan defence ministry.

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More News On A NATO Airstrike Accidentally Killing Five Afghan Soldiers

NATO bombing kills 5 Afghan troops -- Stars and Stripes
Airstrike Led By NATO In Eastern Afghanistan Kills 5 Afghan Soldiers, Injures 17 People; NATO Calls It An Accident -- IBTimes
NATO air strike kills five Afghan soldiers -- Global Post/AFP
NATO airstrike kills 5 Afghan soldiers -- Washington Post
Five Afghan Troops Accidentally Killed In NATO Strike -- Radio Free Europe
NATO airstrike that kills Afghan soldiers deals fresh blow to ties -- Christian Science Monitor
U.S. Airstrike Kills 5 Afghan Soldiers -- New York Times
NATO drone strike kills Afghan soldiers -- Al Jazeera
NATO airstrike 'accidentally' kills 5 Afghan soldiers -- RT

Video Shows The Shocking Moment A 500lb Bomb Is Dropped On U.S. Soldiers By Mistake

This Is What It’s Like To Have A 500-Pound Bomb Hit Your Position (VIDEO) -- Guns

While details are still sparse on how this unfortunate situation came to be, this U.S. Army infantry outpost in Paktika Provence, Afghanistan, was mistakenly hit by a not-so-friendly 500-pound bomb.

The air strike was called in to support the Army mortar team, equipped with 60mm mortars. Their First Sergeant made the decision to “stand do” before the air strike, which almost certainly lead to saved lives.

“If it hadn’t been for the decision of the First Sergeant to bring everyone to stand to, three of our guys would have died in that wood building. His decision saved three of our men,” explained one soldier in an interview with the Funker team.

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Update #1: So The U.S. Military Apparently Dropped A 500-Pound Bomb On Its Own Soldiers -- Huffington Post
Update #2: Video: 500-pound friendly bomb dropped too close to soldiers in Afghanistan -- Army Times

My Comment: A second video from a different outpost filmed the same strike (it is shown on the  last few seconds of the above video) .... and these soldiers were more surprised than the soldiers at the FOB that was struck.

Image: Navy and Marine Corps Medal. Wikipedia

'Friendly Fire' Leads To Medal For Marine ... With No Hard Feelings -- Stars and Stripes/Chicago Tribune

CHICAGO — Shortly after sunrise, Marine Cpl. Luis C. Garcia and the sniper team were already on edge, having spotted some unusual activity from their hilltop perch in southern Afghanistan's notorious Helmand province.

The 10-member team had split in half, taking different positions to conduct surveillance on a village below. After two members on Garcia's team left to check out a passing vehicle, shots were fired — and they weren't coming from the enemy.

"All you hear are sniper rounds going off, and then you see people drop," said Garcia, 22, a combat engineer later promoted to sergeant, recalling the events on May 7, 2012.

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My Comment: No hard feelings!?!?!?! .... I would not have been so forgiving.

Friendly Fire Was Responsible For The Death Of US Army Sgt Nathan Wyrick In Afghanistan In October 2011

Loss: US Army Sgt. Nathan Wyrick, 34, was killed when a mortar malfunctioned and landed on his tent

Family's Heartbreak As It Emerges Father-Of-Four Killed In Afghanistan Nearly Two Years Ago Was Slain By Friendly Fire -- Daily Mail

* US Army Sgt Nathan Wyrick died from stomach wounds in October 2011
* The Defense Department said he died from 'combat-related injuries'
* A Freedom of Information Act request has revealed he actually died when mortars from his fellow soldiers malfunctioned and hit his tent

A Washington family grieving for a solider who was killed in Afghanistan nearly two years ago have learned he was actually slain by friendly fire.

U.S. Army Sgt. Nathan Wyrick, a father-of four from Enumclaw, was on his second tour of duty when he was killed in October 2011. The Defense Department reported that the 34-year-old died from 'combat-related injuries'.

But nearly two years on, a Freedom of Information Act request has revealed that a mortar round intended for an insurgent malfunctioned and landed on Wyrick's tent, killing him.

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My Comment: Our prayers are with his family and loved ones.