Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
NATO airstrike kills 4 Afghan soldiers in mix-up
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
NATO airstrike kills 4 Afghan soldiers in mix-up
By KIM GAMEL,Associated Press Writer -
Sunday, January 31
Send
IM Story
Print
KABUL – A joint U.S.-Afghan force clashed with Afghan troops manning a snow-covered outpost and called in an airstrike early Saturday, killing four Afghan soldiers, U.S. and Afghan officials said. Both sides called the clash a case of mistaken identity.
Afghanistan's Defense Ministry condemned the killings in the eastern Wardak province and demanded punishment for those responsible. NATO called the deaths "regrettable" and announced an investigation.
The deaths are likely to strain relations between NATO and Afghan forces at a time both are calling for a closer partnership in the fight against the Taliban.
Underscoring those tensions, an Afghan interpreter killed two U.S. service members Friday at a combat outpost elsewhere in Wardak province, a NATO official said.
A U.S. soldier then killed the interpreter, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to release the information. NATO and Afghan officials said an investigation was still under way but the interpreter apparently was upset over job-related issues.
Both attacks occurred in the Sayed Abad district, but the official said they did not appear to be linked. First reports indicated three Americans were killed but NATO officials said one of the dead was an Afghan.
Saturday's fighting began about 3 a.m., when a joint U.S.-Afghan force traded fire with another Afghan unit manning the outpost, which the army said had been established 18 months ago to guard the highway. International troops then called in an airstrike, killing the four Afghans, NATO and the Afghan ministry said.
The NATO official confirmed they were Americans, and Afghan officials they were Special Forces working with Afghan commandos.
Associated Press Television News footage of the aftermath showed American armored vehicles on the highway, about a half mile (a kilometer) from the hilltop outpost. The snow outside the fortified compound was blackened by the airstrike.
"Besides expressing heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyrs, the Afghan Defense Ministry is condemning this incident," the Afghan statement said, adding a delegation had been sent to the area to investigate. "After the investigation is completed, the Defense Ministry wants to bring those responsible to justice."
Provincial officials said the fighting was due to a misunderstanding as the joint force returned from an operation. Provincial spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said seven Afghan soldiers also had been wounded.
NATO said the Afghans began shooting first and the joint force returned fire before calling in the airstrike.
"We work extremely hard to coordinate and synchronize our operations," NATO spokesman Brig Gen. Eric Tremblay said.
It was believed to be the first fatal friendly fire incident since November, when eight Afghans _ four soldiers, three policemen and an interpreter _ were killed during close combat amid a search for a missing U.S. paratrooper.
Afghanistan's Defense Ministry said at the time that the deaths had been caused by "an air attack by NATO forces" during the fighting.
Saturday's incident followed the deaths Friday of two U.S. service members and one U.S. employee who were killed in eastern Afghanistan. In a statement announcing the deaths, NATO did not specify the circumstances or give further details pending an investigation.
That suggested the deaths may not have been due to hostile fire.
Also Saturday, NATO said its troops opened fire on a taxi the day before as it sped toward a patrol, ignoring warning shots. Two civilians were killed and one was wounded in the shooting, which occurred in the Muqor district of Ghazni province.
U.S. soldiers shot and killed an Afghan imam Thursday when his car approached a convoy on the eastern outskirts of Kabul.
Elsewhere, joint NATO-Afghan forces came under attack in the northwestern province of Badghis at about 1 a.m. Saturday (2030 GMT Friday; 3:30 p.m. EDT Friday), prompting a gunbattle and an airstrike that killed eight militants, including a group leader, deputy provincial police chief Abdul Jabar Khan said.
___
Associated Press writer Rahim Faiez contributed to this report.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
China, U.S. feud over Taiwan arms sales Reuters - 2 hours 25 minutes ago
Thai PM: There won't be a coup d'etat AP - Sunday, January 31
NATO airstrike kills 4 Afghan soldiers in mix-up AP - Sunday, January 31
AP Interview: Months ahead key to Afghan fight AP - Sunday, January 31
Afghan govt condemns NATO airstrike on soldiers AP - Sunday, January 31
News Search
Top Stories
Gandhi ashes scattered off South Africa
Italy halts bluefin fishing for a year: EU
Bankers resigned to reform after Davos bust-up
State debt to become 'biggest problem': IMF chief
Got a decision to make? Have some sugar, study says
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Davos ends with recovery warning after banking bust-up
US angers China with Taiwan arms package
Turkish twins with different fathers 'trigger divorce'
Blair says no regrets for removing Saddam
Disease spreads in quake-hit Haiti
More Most Viewed »
Woman who saved Anne Frank's diary dead at 100
Scientists praise Obama as Doomsday clock reset
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Sunday, 31 January 2010 Iran puts 16 opposition supporters on trial
Italy halts bluefin fishing for a year: EU
Haiti faces long, difficult road to recovery
|
Davos ends with recovery warning after banking bust-up
Police: Suicide bomber kills 2 at Iraqi restaurant
Italian judges stage walk-out against Berlusconi
Thousands rally to urge Russia's Putin to resign
|
Gandhi ashes scattered off South Africa
Iran warns protesters as post-vote trial starts
Iran executes two men for rape
Iran opposition in implicit call for protest on Feb 11
Sri Lanka's losing candidate vows protests
|
Thai PM: There won't be a coup d'etat
Pearl Harbor merging with Hickam Air Force Base
NATO airstrike kills 4 Afghan soldiers in mix-up
Obama taking populist tone in fight over jobs
AP Interview: Months ahead key to Afghan fight
US military airlifts of Haiti quake victims halted
Washington Times names Dealey as top editor
Southeastern US stares down icy, snowy weekend
Oregon legislators say 'Whew,' go back to work
Afghan govt condemns NATO airstrike on soldiers
NM bill first step toward carbon storage
Teen held in 80-year-old Ohio churchgoer's death
NYC fire in immigrant housing kills at least 5
Bigelow, Cameron, Tarantino vie for director honor
China will move on yuan when stimulus packages end: banker
Pakistan keeps policy rate unchanged at 12.5 pct
Three Americans Killed In Afghanistan
Music world preps for Sunday's Grammys
Grammy weekend begins with Neil Young tribute
Crystal Cathedral makes deep cuts as revenues drop
US Marines facing a 'different war' in Afghanistan
GlaxoSmithKline to axe 4,000 jobs in US, Europe
UN chief calls for treaty to prevent cyber war
U.S. halt to Haiti evacuations stirs fears for sick
|
Obama trims US space ambitions
Sudan rejects three presidential candidates
Seized North Korea arms were bound for Iran: Thailand
|
Sudan rejects three presidential candidates
|
Court Stops Dispensary From Selling Medical Marijuana
President Obama Orders Federal Support For State Of Oklahoma
Moderate China quake kills one: state media
US, China locked in dispute over Taiwan arms sale
Earthquake strikes southwestern China, killing 1
Malaysian court fines lovers 4 buffaloes, pig
China: U.S. arms sales to Taiwan hurt national security
Indian parents vie for nursery school admissions
US troops more than welcome in Haiti _ for now
Miss Virginia wins 2010 Miss America crown
Pakistan: 25 dead in suicide bomb, US missile hit
Seized North Korea arms were bound for Iran
Haiti holds 10 US citizens over trafficking concerns
Anger as NATO airstrike kills 4 Afghan soldiers
Cambodian, Thai troops clash on border: Phnom Penh
Books pulled from Amazon.com in pricing dispute
31 emaciated horses rescued in Ohio; 6 others die
Obama seeks $200M to help cities host 9/11 trials
Idaho man says 10 Americans detained in Haiti
Japan's listed firms keep boosting profits: report
Asia-Pacific trade deal faces skeptical Americans
China will move on yuan when stimulus packages end: banker
Michael Jackson, Leonard Cohen win special Grammys
|
Winter's Bone, Restrepo win top Sundance awards
|
'Winter's Bone,' 'Restrepo' earn Sundance honors
"Winter's Bone", "Restrepo" win top Sundance awards
Miss Virginia wins 2010 Miss America crown
Michael Jackson, Leonard Cohen win special Grammys
AP NewsAlert
Pat Tillman cover-up focus of Sundance documentary
Ex-Nevada deputy relieved over bribery acquittal
Rip Torn charged with breaking into Conn. bank
Egypt's veil wearers see it as barrier to harassment
Saudi couple forced to divorce reunited by court
French government on the defensive rival's new trial
Bankers leave Davos battered by blame game
U.N. official to visit North Korea next month
|
Israel: Slain Hamas leader key arms smuggler
China Threatens Sanctions Over U.S.-Taiwan Arms Deal
Slain Hamas leader helped Gaza get arms
Saudi couple forced to divorce reunited by court
|
Gaddafi chides African Union after leadership change
|
Karzai renews call for Taliban to reconcile
Pope calls on business, government to save jobs
|
Pakistan army probes report of Taliban leader's death
|
Yemen clashes continue, ceasefire offer rejected
|
Slain Hamas leader helped Gaza get arms: spokesman
|
Obama pushes nuclear energy to boost climate bill
Haiti holds US citizens suspected of child trafficking
January death rate signal of tough year in Afghan war
Filipino troops kill 3 communist rebels in clash
UN chief to send special envoy to North Korea
China activist to end protest at Tokyo airport
UN must speak out over Cambodian rehab centres: HRW
Report: Chinese sub entered Taiwan waters
New study fails to bridge Japan, China history divide
Experts: US arms deal won't hurt Taiwan-China ties
Mexican president in Japan for three day visit
S.Lanka premier targets army officers: source
Pakistan: Mule steps on land mine, kills 2 troops
India shifts monetary gears as economy rebounds
China's online travel market booming
Japan carmakers must restore reputation: media
It's ladies' night at the Grammys
|
Bigelow wins Directors top award for Hurt Locker
|
Actor Rip Torn arrested drunk, armed in Conn. bank
|
Kathryn Bigelow tops directors with `Hurt Locker'
'Hurt Locker' director wins key Oscars indicator
Actor Rip Torn arrested drunk, armed in Conn. bank
In Italy, 'Madonna hospital' cares for quake-damaged art
Thousands attend 'Lost' sneak preview
Mormon role in gay marriage ban scrutinized at Sundance
'Restrepo,' 'Winter's Bone' take top Sundance honors
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights