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Jordan shooting: Three US military trainers killed at al-Jafr air base | Jordan shooting: Three US military trainers killed at al-Jafr air base |
(35 minutes later) | |
Three US military trainers have been shot dead in an exchange of fire at an air base in Jordan, a US official says. | Three US military trainers have been shot dead in an exchange of fire at an air base in Jordan, a US official says. |
One was killed at the base and two others died later in hospital. | One was killed at the base and two others died later in hospital. |
They were in vehicles approaching the gate of a military training centre at al-Jafr air base when they came under small-arms fire, the official added. | They were in vehicles approaching the gate of a military training centre at al-Jafr air base when they came under small-arms fire, the official added. |
An earlier statement from the Jordanian military said the car they were in failed to stop at the gate and was fired upon by security forces. | An earlier statement from the Jordanian military said the car they were in failed to stop at the gate and was fired upon by security forces. |
"A total of three US service members died today in the incident in Jordan," the official said. | "A total of three US service members died today in the incident in Jordan," the official said. |
"Initial reports were that one was killed, two injured. The two injured service members were transported to a hospital in Amman, where they died." | "Initial reports were that one was killed, two injured. The two injured service members were transported to a hospital in Amman, where they died." |
AFP news agency quoted a US defence official as saying it was a "green on blue" incident, a military term for when friendly forces attack US personnel. | |
"But we can't say for the moment if it was a deliberate" act to kill US personnel or "some kind of misunderstanding," the official told the news agency. | |
The incident happened around midday local time (10:00 GMT). The US is working with the Jordanian authorities to gather more details about what happened, the official added. | The incident happened around midday local time (10:00 GMT). The US is working with the Jordanian authorities to gather more details about what happened, the official added. |
Jordan is a close ally of the US and a member of the US-led coalition fighting the so-called Islamic State (IS) group in Syria and Iraq. | Jordan is a close ally of the US and a member of the US-led coalition fighting the so-called Islamic State (IS) group in Syria and Iraq. |
US forces have trained a small group of Syrian rebels in Jordan as well as Iraqi and Palestinian security forces. | US forces have trained a small group of Syrian rebels in Jordan as well as Iraqi and Palestinian security forces. |
Last November, a Jordanian police captain opened fire at a police training centre near the capital Amman, killing two Americans, a South African and two Jordanians. | Last November, a Jordanian police captain opened fire at a police training centre near the capital Amman, killing two Americans, a South African and two Jordanians. |
The Jordanian government subsequently said the police captain had been a troubled individual but security sources said he was an IS supporter. | The Jordanian government subsequently said the police captain had been a troubled individual but security sources said he was an IS supporter. |