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| US aistrike accidentally kills 16 Afghan police officers who were fighting the Taliban | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| An errant US airstrike has killed 16Â Afghan National Police officers who were fighting the Taliban and wounded two others. | |
| Helmand provincial police chief Abdul Ghafar Safi said on Saturday that the death toll in Friday's airstrike was determined after a site inspection of the compound in Gereshk District. | Helmand provincial police chief Abdul Ghafar Safi said on Saturday that the death toll in Friday's airstrike was determined after a site inspection of the compound in Gereshk District. |
| The Pentagon confirmed the airstrike on the Security Forces compound happened during a US-supported operation against Taliban insurgents in the area, and offered its condolences to the families of the security forces who were killed. | The Pentagon confirmed the airstrike on the Security Forces compound happened during a US-supported operation against Taliban insurgents in the area, and offered its condolences to the families of the security forces who were killed. |
| While much of Helmand province is under the control of Taliban, Afghan national security forces have been waging fierce battles to retake territory. | While much of Helmand province is under the control of Taliban, Afghan national security forces have been waging fierce battles to retake territory. |
| Nato and US troops are in Helmand to assist Afghan troops. | Nato and US troops are in Helmand to assist Afghan troops. |
| Mr Safi told The Associated Press that the dead were police officers who were operating with the army in the area. | Mr Safi told The Associated Press that the dead were police officers who were operating with the army in the area. |
| He said they had recaptured the post from the Taliban when the airstrike occurred. | He said they had recaptured the post from the Taliban when the airstrike occurred. |
| The Helmand governor, Hayatullah Hayat, said it was believed the police officers were not in uniform, which may have resulted in mistakenly identifying them as Taliban fighters. | The Helmand governor, Hayatullah Hayat, said it was believed the police officers were not in uniform, which may have resulted in mistakenly identifying them as Taliban fighters. |
| Elsewhere in Afghanistan in northern Badakhshan province, Governor Ahmad Faisal Bigzad said on Saturday that 11 police were killed and another six wounded during a fierce battle with Taliban insurgents in the remote Tagab region. | Elsewhere in Afghanistan in northern Badakhshan province, Governor Ahmad Faisal Bigzad said on Saturday that 11 police were killed and another six wounded during a fierce battle with Taliban insurgents in the remote Tagab region. |
| He said another 20 members of a local police force were missing following Friday's firefight. It was not immediately clear if they had been kidnapped or had escaped. | He said another 20 members of a local police force were missing following Friday's firefight. It was not immediately clear if they had been kidnapped or had escaped. |
| The area in which the fighting occurred is tucked inside a mountainous region where access is restricted and even telephone contact is erratic. | The area in which the fighting occurred is tucked inside a mountainous region where access is restricted and even telephone contact is erratic. |
| And a ferocious gun battle between the Afghan army and Taliban insurgents in western Farah province has left six Afghan soldiers dead and 12 Taliban killed. | And a ferocious gun battle between the Afghan army and Taliban insurgents in western Farah province has left six Afghan soldiers dead and 12 Taliban killed. |
| The battle on Friday occurred after Taliban insurgents stormed a compound of the Afghan National Security Force in Pusht Rod district. | The battle on Friday occurred after Taliban insurgents stormed a compound of the Afghan National Security Force in Pusht Rod district. |
| The fighting continued for five hours, Mohammad Naser Mehri, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said. | The fighting continued for five hours, Mohammad Naser Mehri, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said. |
| A Taliban statement meanwhile claimed a victory and said 16 Afghan soldiers were killed. | A Taliban statement meanwhile claimed a victory and said 16 Afghan soldiers were killed. |
| Taliban have in the past exaggerated their successes and the remoteness of the area made it impossible to independently verify. | Taliban have in the past exaggerated their successes and the remoteness of the area made it impossible to independently verify. |
| Associated Press | Associated Press |