Skip to main content

5 Americans killed in Afghanistan were elite force

By WTOP Staff

ROBERT BURNS
AP National Security Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two U.S. defense officials say the five Americans killed in Afghanistan, apparently by friendly fire, were special operations troops.

The officials made the disclosure on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss details publicly until Pentagon notification to the families of the five had been completed. They provided no details about the special operations unit involved or the exact circumstances of the five deaths.

The incident happened Monday in southern Afghanistan. An Afghan official said the five were killed, along with one Afghan officer, in a mistaken allied airstrike. If confirmed it would be one of the worst friendly fire incidents involving United States and coalition troops since the start of the war nearly 14 years ago.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Emergency guide: What you should do to prepare for emergencies

By WTOP Staff
WASHINGTON — Do you know what you'd do if an emergency hits? What if you're at work, your spouse is stuck in traffic and your children are in school? There's no way to plan for every emergency, but you can make sure you're prepared for different scenarios, including making a plan for your family and building a kit of emergency supplies.
Read Next Story

Related News

Cards, gifts cross religious lines

Mind your mouth: How oral health affects overall health

5 questions to ask before buying a winter home