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| Nato forces kill five US troops in Afghanistan | Nato forces kill five US troops in Afghanistan |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Five American soldiers have been killed accidentally by their own side in southern Afghanistan, US military sources have confirmed. | Five American soldiers have been killed accidentally by their own side in southern Afghanistan, US military sources have confirmed. |
| An Afghan soldier and an interpreter also died in the Nato air strike after Monday's operation in Zabul province | An Afghan soldier and an interpreter also died in the Nato air strike after Monday's operation in Zabul province |
| Afghan officials say coalition forces called in air support when they were attacked by the Taliban at the end of the operation. Nato is investigating. | Afghan officials say coalition forces called in air support when they were attacked by the Taliban at the end of the operation. Nato is investigating. |
| Militants have stepped up attacks as foreign combat troops leave this year. | Militants have stepped up attacks as foreign combat troops leave this year. |
| The incident, which happened on Monday, is among the most serious cases of so-called "friendly fire" in Afghanistan, where Nato-led troops have been battling Taliban and other insurgents since 2001. | The incident, which happened on Monday, is among the most serious cases of so-called "friendly fire" in Afghanistan, where Nato-led troops have been battling Taliban and other insurgents since 2001. |
| A statement from international forces in Kabul said: "Tragically there is the possibility that fratricide may have been involved." | A statement from international forces in Kabul said: "Tragically there is the possibility that fratricide may have been involved." |
| Nato did not immediately confirm the nationality of these latest casualties. | Nato did not immediately confirm the nationality of these latest casualties. |
| But the BBC's David Loyn in Kabul says the term "fratricide" is used by US forces when they mistakenly kill soldiers on their own side. | But the BBC's David Loyn in Kabul says the term "fratricide" is used by US forces when they mistakenly kill soldiers on their own side. |
| Analysis - Military historian Peter Caddick-Adams | |
| Chroniclers of the battle of Waterloo, fought in 1815, have recorded how British infantry squares engaged one another by mistake and other allied cavalry, causing many casualties. | |
| Similar incidents happened in the Crimea in 1854, during the American Civil War of the 1860s and the Boer War of 1899-1902. | |
| War diaries from World War I are peppered with accounts, mainly of British artillery shelling British troops by accident, poison gas clouds being misdirected, or a worn gun barrel firing shells inaccurately. | |
| In World War Two, many allied aircraft were lost to so-called friendly fire, because of poor aircraft recognition skills, or the split seconds in which a pilot had to decide whether to engage an oncoming plane or not. | |
| Historians now think that the famous RAF fighter ace Douglas Bader was shot down by one of his wingmen, not the Germans. | |
| A history of friendly fire | |
| The Isaf force currently has soldiers from 50 contributing nations in Afghanistan. Most troops stationed in the south are American. | The Isaf force currently has soldiers from 50 contributing nations in Afghanistan. Most troops stationed in the south are American. |
| The governor of Zabul province told the BBC there was a joint operation involving Afghan and international troops. | The governor of Zabul province told the BBC there was a joint operation involving Afghan and international troops. |
| The incident happened in Arghandab district, a place hotly contested between the Taliban and international forces for some years, our correspondent reports. | The incident happened in Arghandab district, a place hotly contested between the Taliban and international forces for some years, our correspondent reports. |
| Southern Afghanistan is the heartland of the Taliban movement and insurgents frequently attack security forces in the region. | Southern Afghanistan is the heartland of the Taliban movement and insurgents frequently attack security forces in the region. |
| There have been more than 30 Nato forces killed this year in Afghanistan - the latest incident is the deadliest so far in 2014. | There have been more than 30 Nato forces killed this year in Afghanistan - the latest incident is the deadliest so far in 2014. |
| Afghanistan is set to hold a run-off round of voting in its presidential election on Saturday. | Afghanistan is set to hold a run-off round of voting in its presidential election on Saturday. |
| Insurgents - who vowed to disrupt campaigning and voting - attacked the campaign rally of one of the contenders last week. | Insurgents - who vowed to disrupt campaigning and voting - attacked the campaign rally of one of the contenders last week. |