Iraqi soldier dies in exchange of fire with coalition forces

[maddezmom]

Iraqi soldier dies in exchange of fire with coalition forces
BAGHDAD (CNN) -- U.S.-led coalition forces killed an Iraqi soldier and wounded three others during a Thursday morning raid targeting the al Qaeda in Iraq network in Mosul, a U.S. military statement said.

"During the course of the operation, ground forces began receiving small arms fire from armed men in two separate buildings," the military said. "An observation helicopter flying overhead also took fire from the buildings."

After the shooting was over, the armed men were identified as Iraqi soldiers, the statement said. The wounded were taken to a local hospital for treatment.

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/03/15/thursday/index.html

* MOSUL - U.S. forces targeting al Qaeda militants in the northern city of Mosul killed one Iraqi soldier and wounded three after thinking they were insurgents, the U.S. military said in a statement. It said U.S. soldiers had come under fire from a building and returned fire.

http://mobile.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L15714175.htm

[independentpiney]

1. The CNN story doesn't sound like a 'friendly fire' incident

Sounds more to me like the Iraqi soldiers saw an opportunity to hit US troops in the fog of battle.

[sabra]

2. more: U.S. army kills Iraqi soldier, injures three others in Mosul

http://www.aswataliraq.info/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=39488&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

U.S. army kills Iraqi soldier, injures three others in Mosul

Baghdad, March 15, (VOI) - The U.S. army killed an Iraqi army soldier and injured three others by mistake on Thursday, during a raid targeting the al-Qaeda armed group in Mosul, 402 km north of Baghdad, the U.S. army said.

"During the course of the operation, ground forces began to come under small arms fire from armed men in two separate buildings," according to a statement of the U.S. army received by the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
"An observation helicopter flying overhead also took fire from the buildings. The forces returned fire, killing one person and wounding three others," the statement added.

"U.S. forces later identified the armed men as Iraqi army soldiers," it noted.
The wounded men were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The statement also highlighted, "Coalition forces employ every effort to reduce risks to friendly forces and they reserve the right to take appropriate self-defense measures when the situation warrants."
"Coalition forces express their deepest sympathies to the family of the Iraqi army soldier killed," said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, Multi-National force Iraq, MNF-I spokesperson.