KABUL, Aghanistan (AP) — Officials say a NATO airstrike has mistakenly killed five of its Afghan army allies while they were on patrol in the country's east.
Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman Gen. Mohammad Zahir Azimi condemned Wednesday morning’s deaths, saying it was not the first time Afghan troops have died in "friendly fire."
Azimi said the Afghan troops were launching a morning ambush against insurgents on the move in Ghazni province when NATO aircraft began firing on them. Five Afghan soldiers died and two more were wounded.
NATO spokesman Josef Blotz confirmed the botched airstrike and said he regretted the deaths. He said a joint investigation has been launched.
