Reports of Afghan military casualties in Helmand Province were initially shrugged off as the result of a missile fired by unknown insurgents. Later, however, officials admitted that the casualties were the result of a US airstrike.
The airstrike, in the Nad Ali District, killed one soldier and wounded 29 other members of Afghan security forces. Provincial officials have promised an investigation, and confirmed it was a US strike.
Conspicuously absent in all of this is any comment from the US or NATO, neither of whom has confirmed, denied, or even noted the incident. This is unusual, as in recent years, the US has tried to get out in front of reports of airstrikes killing the wrong people.
Afghan officials say their own fighters were in the area trying to clear the Taliban out of Nad Ali. The district has been long-contested, as has much of the Helmand Province, where the Taliban controls a great deal of territory.
Afghan officials say their own fighters were in the area trying to clear the Taliban out of Nad Ali.
Or. . .the US puppet government say their mercenary fighters are trying to clear representatives of the US-deposed Afghan government out of a district that they still control, one of many.. . .Good luck on that.