Nine Iraqi soldiers killed by 'friendly fire' in US-led coalition airstrike

Jamie Grierson and agencies
Saturday 19 December 2015 11.41 GMT

Nine Iraqi soldiers have been killed by “friendly fire” from US-led coalition aircraft during an assault on an Islamic State stronghold.

The Iraqi defence minister, Khaled al-Obeidi, told a news conference that coalition air forces were supporting ground troops near Falluja, a city 30 miles west of the capital, Baghdad, when the personnel, including an officer, were killed.

Forces from Iraq’s 3rd Division 55th Brigade had been advancing on Isis positions near the city, which is the extremist group’s main stronghold in Anbar province.

“The coalition air forces were covering the advance of army ground troops near Falluja because the Iraqi army helicopters were not able to fly due to the bad weather. The final death toll of the strike is nine soldiers killed, including an army officer,” Obeidi said.

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Carter: Iraqi airstrike may be 'mistake' by both sides

Gregg Zoroya, USA TODAY 9:18 a.m. EST December 19, 2015

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Saturday that an American airstrike near the embattled city of Fallujah that may have killed a number of Iraqi soldiers was a "mistake that involved both sides," the Associated Press reported.

“These kinds of things happen when you’re fighting side by side as we are,” said Carter, who called Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to express condolences.

The airstrike Friday “has all the indications of being a mistake of the kind that can happen on a dynamic battlefield," Carter added.

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