The International News – 2010-12-22 13:13:27

http://www.thenews.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=7517

NATO Confirms Air Strike Killed Afghan Soldiers
The International News

KABUL (December 18, 2010) — NATO confirmed Saturday that four Afghan soldiers were killed accidentally in an air strike in a Taliban flashpoint in southern Afghanistan this week.

The military said Wednesday’s incident in Musa Qala, Helmand province, happened when troops from NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), saw weapons being fired near them.

They assumed they were under fire and called for air support, ISAF added.

Four people died but they were later identified as Afghan soldiers wearing uniforms, it said, following an assessment conducted with Afghan officials.

“This is a regrettable tragedy that should not have happened. Our thoughts and concerns are with the victims’ families,” said Brigadier General Tim Zadalis of ISAF.

Musa Qala is one of the Taliban’s main strongholds in its nine-year insurgency against the Afghan government and around 140,000 US-led NATO troops.

Posted in accordance with Title 17, Section 107, US Code, for noncommercial, educational purposes.