U.S. bomb kills 3 British soldiers

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Three British soldiers died and two were seriously injured when a U.S. fighter jet dropped a bomb too close to their position as they battled Taliban insurgents in southern Afghanistan, military officials said Friday.

The incident, which occurred at dusk Thursday in Helmand province, marks the first time that the deaths of British troops have been attributed to friendly fire in Afghanistan. The incident was under investigation Friday night, and officials said it may be some time before they know for sure how it happened.

The soldiers, part of a NATO-led force, had been on a routine foot patrol in a dried-up riverbed near the town of Kajaki, the scene of heavy fighting this year, according to Lt. Cmdr. Mike Parr, a NATO forces spokesman.

After being ambushed, the soldiers called in support and a U.S. Air Force jet operating under NATO command moved in. A 500-pound bomb was responsible for the British casualties, Parr said. It was not clear whether the explosion killed any insurgents.

“We’re looking at all possible causes,” he said. “At the moment, it would be unhelpful to speculate.”

Parr said international troops in Helmand often fight “in very, very close confines with the enemy.”

In Britain, Defense Secretary Des Browne told the BBC he was “very saddened” by the deaths but that such incidents are rare.

Friendly fire incidents have occurred in the past in Afghanistan, though with less frequency than in Iraq. At least five Canadian soldiers have been mistakenly killed by U.S. fire since the American-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. U.S. troops also have died due to friendly fire, most famously former football player Pat Tillman, who was killed by fellow troops in 2004.

There are increasing concerns in Afghanistan over the use of air power. Afghan authorities, including President Hamid Karzai, have registered deep dismay this summer at airstrikes by international forces that have killed dozens if not hundreds of Afghan civilians.

While there have not been as many incidents in the past month as there were earlier in the summer, Afghan officials say fighting in the southern part of the country remains intense and civilians often are caught in the crossfire.

“The security situation in Helmand has been getting worse day by day,” said Mohammed Anwar Esaqzai, who represents the province in parliament. “When international forces do operations, the Taliban run away. Then the poor people who live in the villages are being killed or injured. When the operation is finished, the Taliban come back.”