U.S. Bombs U.K. Troops As A Result Of Friendly Fire In Afghanistan

A bomb was dropped from a U.S. fighter plane during a clash with Taliban militants in Afghanistan, accidently killed three British soldiers.

The three British troops died during an operation against the Taliban near Kajaki in the southwestern province of Helmand, the UK Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

“One bomb was dropped and it is believed the explosion killed the three soldiers,” the ministry said.

The soldiers were serving under NATO command, and including these recent deaths it brings the death toll of British troops killed in in Afghanistan to 73 since the U.S.-led offensive of 2001. Many of those have died in a recent upsurge in Taliban activity in Helmand.

Two other soldiers were wounded and air-lifted to a nearby base for medical treatment.