KABUL—NATO on Tuesday launched an investigation into the deaths of five soldiers in southern Afghanistan as local officials blamed a “friendly fire” error by a coalition air strike.
The deaths in the restive province of Zabul were the worst single incident for NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) since five British soldiers were killed in a helicopter crash on April 26.
The most recent major “friendly fire” incident was in April when five Afghan soldiers were killed in an air strike in the eastern province of Logar, provoking fury from the Afghan government.
“I can confirm that five foreign troops were killed as a result of their own bombardment in Arghandab district,” Ghulam Sakhi Roghlewani, police chief of Zabul province, told AFP after Monday’s deaths.
Mohsin Khan, spokesman for the Afghan army’s 205 division, which is deployed in Zabul, also said it was a friendly fire incident, adding that one Afghan soldier was killed.
“Our forces were jointly engaged in fighting with militants, and foreign forces called in air support and they mistakenly bombed friendly positions,” Khan said.
“I can confirm ISAF suffered casualties. We also lost one solider and one was wounded.”
An ISAF spokesman declined to comment on reports that “friendly fire” was responsible.
“The incident is under investigation,” he said.