WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The incident occurred at an ANA checkpoint south of Kabul in the Baraki Barak district of Logar province. A high number of Taliban forces continue to operate within the province.
It was one of the highest casualty tolls from the so-called “friendly fire” in several years in the Afghan conflict.
“We are aware of an incident involving US forces in Logar Province on the morning of July 20 that resulted in the death of seven Afghan National Army soldiers and the injury of five additional ANA soldiers,” the spokesperson said on Monday.
US Forces in Afghanistan remained committed to supporting the ANA and the Afghan government of President Ashraf Gilani, the spokesperson added.
“We offer our deepest condolences to those impacted by this tragedy. We are praying for the quick recovery of those who were injured,” the spokesperson said, adding “The incident is currently under investigation.”
Media reports from Afghanistan presented initially confused and complex reports of the incident. According to some reports, ten Afghan soldiers were killed in the airstrike.
Reportedly two US helicopters fired the deadly barrage.
Other accounts said the US helicopters were responding to hostile fire from presumed Taliban forces in the vicinity.
There were also reported official Afghan claims that the Afghan flag was flying at the checkpoint.
In December 2014, a NATO airstrike killed five Afghan civilians and injured six others in an earlier “friendly fire” incident, also in Logar province.
