At least eight Afghan soldiers have been killed in a United States air strike on an army checkpoint in Logar province south of Kabul, Afghan officials say.
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“At 6:00 am today morning, two USA helicopters attacked a checkpoint in Baraki Barak district of Logar province”.
A North Atlantic Treaty Organisation air strike in December killed five civilians and wounded six others in the same district of Baraki Barak.
Logar police chief Mohammad Douod Ahmadi confirmed the casualty figures, though other Afghan officials gave slightly different numbers.
District governor Mohammad Rahim Amin says the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation strike was likely a mistake, due to bad coordination in an area where Taliban insurgents are highly active.
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Civilian deaths in air strikes have been one of the most emotive and high-profile issues of the 13-year Afghan war.
Amin said the targeted outpost was “not a suspicious area”.
Their fighting role is limited to special forces operations now that Nato’s combat mission has ended.
Last week Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar backed peace talks with the government.
Foreign forces are themselves known to sometimes fall victim to “friendly fire” incidents.
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“This incident is under investigation”, Tribus said.
