US investigating airstrike that may have killed Iraqi soldiers

The US military said it is investigating an American airstrike that may have inadvertently killed Iraqi soldiers near the city of Fallujah.

In a brief statement, the US military headquarters in charge of the war effort in Syria and Iraq said one of several airstrikes it conducted on Friday against Islamic State targets may have resulted in the death of Iraqi soldiers. It did not say how many may have been killed, but other officials said the Iraqis initially reported that 10 may have died.

The US statement said the airstrikes were in response to requests and information provided by Iraqi security forces on the ground near Fallujah, which is in Isis’s control.

It said the airstrikes were done in coordination with Iraqi forces and that Iraqis had been invited to participate in the investigation.

When asked how many Iraqis may have been killed, the US military command said: “The coalition is investigating the incident and will make further details available when appropriate.”