NATO probing reports nine Afghan police killed in US air strike
NATO is investigating reports that at least nine Afghan police officers were killed in a US air strike during heavy fighting with the Taliban in eastern Afghanistan, its mission said on 7 August.
Afghan officials have confirmed the deaths, with interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi saying nine police were killed and 14 wounded in the aerial bombardment in Azra district of Logar province.
During the hours-long battle with insurgents overnight, police ‘called in air support but unfortunately foreign forces mistakenly bombed their positions,’ Rahimi said.
The Taliban also suffered heavy losses, he added.
Provincial Council Chief Hamidullah Hamid told AFP ‘foreign forces’ had mistakenly bombed two police checkpoints and killed ‘about 15 police.’
Resolute Support, NATO’s mission in Afghanistan, confirmed US forces had conducted an air strike ‘in defence of Afghan forces’ in Azra district but did not mention casualties.
U.S. Forces-Afghanistan spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Martin O’Donnell told AFP: ‘We are looking into the matter further.’
The US is the only international force known to be carrying out air strikes in Afghanistan. The Afghan Air Force also carries out some attacks.
There are about 14,000 US ground troops in Afghanistan, making up the bulk of NATO’s mission to support and train local forces.
Some of the US forces are involved in counter-terrorism operations, particularly against the Islamic State jihadist group.
More from Defence Notes
-
![Eurosatory 2026: New public security needs drive personal protection equipment modernisation]()
Eurosatory 2026: New public security needs drive personal protection equipment modernisation
European law enforcement and public security agencies are entering a new cycle of investment in personal protection equipment (PPE), driven by evolving threat profiles, officer welfare requirements and advances in materials technology.
-
![Eurosatory 2026: Milrem Robotics puts forward multi-layered defence concept for NATO’s eastern flank]()
Eurosatory 2026: Milrem Robotics puts forward multi-layered defence concept for NATO’s eastern flank
Autonomous systems developer Milrem has evolved a model for an interoperable robotised approach to the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative (EFDI), showing how uncrewed systems could provide a multi-layered defence architecture in the air and on land along NATO’s eastern borders.
-
![Eurosatory 2026 to highlight changing defence and security priorities]()
Eurosatory 2026 to highlight changing defence and security priorities
Eurosatory 2026 will reflect a defence and security sector shaped by conflict, rising government spending, uncrewed systems, multidomain networks and growing demand for sovereign capabilities.
-
![Delays, departures and drama cloud UK defence programmes ahead of absent DIP]()
Delays, departures and drama cloud UK defence programmes ahead of absent DIP
The UK defence secretary’s departure suggests that the long-delayed Defence Investment Plan is unlikely to meet the funding demands of the armed forces, with consequences for procurement and the UK’s standing at a NATO summit weeks away.
