It has been reported that six coalition troops, including five Americans and one Afghan soldier have been killed in Afghanistan . The coalition confirmed that those killed on June 9, 2014 were members of special operation forces.
It is believed that their deaths may have come as a result of fratricide, otherwise known as friendly fire. The team that the deceased were operating with were reportedly performing security operations in the Arghandab district of Zabul. Their unit met with Taliban forces and called in an air strike. It has been reported that the jet called in to suppress the Taliban also struck coalition forces, killing the six.
The nationalities, names or branches of service have not yet been released by the coalition’s HQ. But the Pentagon’s press secretary RDML John Kirby confirmed that five of the fallen were U.S. service members.
“Five American troops were killed yesterday during a security operation in southern Afghanistan,” Admiral Kirby said in a statement. “Investigators are looking into the likelihood that friendly fire was the cause. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of these fallen.”
Once these five fallen are officially confirmed, it will bring the death toll of U.S. service members in Afghanistan to 2,238 since 2001. Approximately 50,000 coalition troops are still stationed in Afghanistan, and more than 32,000 of them are Americans. The U.S. force is scheduled to be trimmed to less than 10,000 in 2015.
While the war is winding down, the American people need to remember that there is still a war going on there… and American men and women are still fighting it.
Please take a moment each day to say a prayer for, wish luck on, send your love to, or otherwise offer support to the men and women who are still fighting a war.
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