Eight Iraqi soldiers were killed and six wounded on Friday, Iraqi officials reported, after an American helicopter mistook them for an al-Qaida cell and opened fire. The U.S. military, which says only five were killed, expressed its “deepest sympathies” for the friendly-fire deaths.


BBC:

The Kurdish officials said US helicopters hit the men who were guarding a branch of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in Mosul.

They said the victims were all Kurdish.

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, who leads the PUK, was concerned about the incident and wanted more details about what happened, his spokesman was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.

The US military said the attack was launched after its soldiers had identified armed men in a bunker near a building that was reportedly used for bomb-making.

Read more

AS CHAOS UNFOLDS, FIND SOLID GROUND…

In this time of unprecedented challenges, independent journalism is more vital than ever. At Truthdig, we expose what power wants hidden and give you the clarity to make sense of it all.

Your donation helps ensure that truth telling continues.

SUPPORT TRUTHDIG