News Digest

At least 8 Afghan troops killed in U.S. ‘friendly fire’ air strike

At least eight Afghan soldiers have been killed in a NATO 'friendly fire’ air strike in eastern Afghanistan, according to security officials. Provincial army commander Abdul Razaq said the U.S. strike took place on Monday morning in Logar province’s district of Baraki Barak, about 50km east of Kabul. He said five troops were also wounded in the strike. Other Afghan officials also reported the strike, though they gave slightly different number of casualties.

The incident is under investigation.

U.S. military spokesman Col. Brian Tribus

It is being reported that two U.S. helicopter gunships targeted the checkpoint. District governor Mohammad Rahim Amin said the strike was likely a mistake, due to bad coordination in an area where Taliban fighters are highly active. A report by the AFP news agency put the death toll at at least 10 people. The Taliban group is active in the area, and fighters are known to transit through Baraki Barak. The U.S. military said it was investigating the claims.