Friendly-fire probe into latest UK death in Afghanistan
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
London, Dec 6, IRNA -- NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is investigating whether the latest British soldier killed in Afghanistan was caused by US friendly fire.
Britain’s Ministry of Defence Monday suggested that the soldier who died from wounds after being shot in Nad-e Ali may have been killed in an attack on insurgent positions by a US aircraft, requested by and agreed with UK forces on the ground.
'While conducting a dismounted patrol, Afghan and coalition forces were engaged with enemy forces and requested close air support to suppress the enemy fire,” ISAF was quoted saying.
'In the subsequent contact, an ISAF service member was killed. The investigation is to determine if the ISAF casualty was caused by enemy or friendly-force fire,” it said.
Earlier, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lt Col David Eastman, said that the British soldier killed on Sunday “made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the people of Nad Ali from insurgent intimidation and defending his country from the threat of terrorism.”
The latest UK death is the 101st this year and brings the total of British fatalities in Afghanistan since the overthrow of the Taliban regime to 346, nearly double the 179 killed in Iraq. It is believed that at least seven have been investigated as being caused by friendly fire.
2220**345**1416
Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30111472
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
