US air strike ‘mistake’ led to Iraq military deaths

The U.S. military said it was investigating whether one of its airstrikes against Islamic State targets on Friday resulted in the deaths of Iraqi soldiers, CBS News reported.

An airstrike by the US-led coalition may have killed more than ten Iraqi soldiers, military forces said today.

Carter said he spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi by phone on Saturday to express his condolences over the deaths.

“With pride we mourn the martyrdom of the leader Samir Qantar and we are honored to join families of martyrs”, Bassam Kantar said on his Facebook page.

Iraqi forces have been heavily reliant on USA air support as they retake territory from the Islamic State.

Air strikes believed to have been carried out by Russian warplanes killed scores of people in the centre of the rebel-held city of Idlib in northwest Syria on Sunday, rescue workers and residents said. He added that during the call, both he and Abadi recognized that “things like this can happen in war”.

“We are aware of the reports and are trying to gather information now”.

Carter met with Abadi during a stop in Baghdad on Monday to discuss the fight against IS, and the USA and coalition plans to accelerate the campaign. According to US officials, the U.S.-led coalition has invited the Iraqi government to take part in that probe.

Forces from Iraq’s 3rd Division 55th Brigade had been advancing on Isis positions near Amriyat al-Fallujah but could not be supported by the Iraqi air force due to bad weather. When the strike happened, Iraqi forces and militants were located close together.

The Iraqi military said a third strike had taken place. The parliamentary Defense and Security Committee said it was demanding a “tough stance” from Iraq’s leadership.