Post by ocelot on Aug 24, 2007 7:15:59 GMT -5
U.S. bomb kills 3 British soldiers in Afghanistan
Last Updated: Friday, August 24, 2007 | 8:20 AM ET
CBC News
Three British soldiers were killed by a bomb dropped by a U.S. warplane in southern Afghanistan, Britain's Ministry of Defence said Friday.
The soldiers, all members of 1st Battalion, the Royal Anglian Regiment, were killed around 6:30 p.m. local time Thursday after being attacked by insurgents while on patrol in Helmand province, the ministry said in a release.
"During the intense engagement that ensued, close air support was called in from two US F-15 aircraft to repel the enemy," the statement said.
"One bomb was dropped and it is believed the explosion killed the three soldiers."
The three soldiers were declared dead at the scene, the ministry said. Two other soldiers who were injured were evacuated by helicopter to a medical facility for treatment.
The ministry said the events surrounding the incident are subject to an investigation.
NATO's mission in Afghanistan has featured several so-called "friendly fire" incidents since the mission began in 2001.
A U.S. army report made public in July found that friendly fire killed a Canadian soldier and an American soldier in Afghanistan in March 2006.
In another incident on Sept. 4, 2006, a Canadian soldier was killed and 36 others were wounded when a U.S. pilot mistakenly strafed their position with machine gun fire.
On April 18, 2002, an American F-16 fighter jet dropped a laser-guided 225-kilogram bomb near Kandahar, accidentally killing four Canadian soldiers and injuring eight others.
Last Updated: Friday, August 24, 2007 | 8:20 AM ET
CBC News
Three British soldiers were killed by a bomb dropped by a U.S. warplane in southern Afghanistan, Britain's Ministry of Defence said Friday.
The soldiers, all members of 1st Battalion, the Royal Anglian Regiment, were killed around 6:30 p.m. local time Thursday after being attacked by insurgents while on patrol in Helmand province, the ministry said in a release.
"During the intense engagement that ensued, close air support was called in from two US F-15 aircraft to repel the enemy," the statement said.
"One bomb was dropped and it is believed the explosion killed the three soldiers."
The three soldiers were declared dead at the scene, the ministry said. Two other soldiers who were injured were evacuated by helicopter to a medical facility for treatment.
The ministry said the events surrounding the incident are subject to an investigation.
NATO's mission in Afghanistan has featured several so-called "friendly fire" incidents since the mission began in 2001.
A U.S. army report made public in July found that friendly fire killed a Canadian soldier and an American soldier in Afghanistan in March 2006.
In another incident on Sept. 4, 2006, a Canadian soldier was killed and 36 others were wounded when a U.S. pilot mistakenly strafed their position with machine gun fire.
On April 18, 2002, an American F-16 fighter jet dropped a laser-guided 225-kilogram bomb near Kandahar, accidentally killing four Canadian soldiers and injuring eight others.