The Defense Department is investigating whether munitions released from a friendly aircraft took the lives of five US troops in southern Afghanistan on June 9, said Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby on Tuesday. “We do have reason to suspect that friendly fire was the cause here, specifically friendly fire from the air,” Kirby told reporters during a June 10 press conference. “But the issue’s under investigation. … We need to let investigators do their work,” he added. The casualties occurred as these troops came into contact with enemy forces, according to a June 10 release from the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of these fallen,” said Kirby, who called what happened a “tragic incident all the way around.” He declined to identify what aircraft type may have been involved. One Afghan soldier was also reportedly killed in the incident; Kirby could not confirm that. (Kirby transcript)
The U.S. military is sending more fighter jets to the Middle East to step up its war with Iran, adding to what is already the largest buildup of airpower in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. For now, the operation shows little sign of coming to a quick…