- XCoalition forces are investigating another "friendly
fire" incident after a US jet apparently fired on British troops.
-
- One British soldier was killed and four others are reported
injured.
-
- The troops were travelling in a convoy of light
armoured vehicles when they apparently came under attack from an American
A-10 "tankbuster" aircraft.
-
- They were members of Household Cavalry Regiment - part
of the prestigious 16 Air Assault Brigade.
-
- The Ministry of Defence said it was investigating the
incident, which happened yesterday afternoon near Basra in southern Iraq.
-
- If confirmed, the latest death brings the number of British
killed in what the armed forces call "blue on blue" attacks,
to five.
-
- 'Blue-on-blue'
-
- An MoD spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that an
incident has occurred involving a group of British light armoured vehicles
belonging to D Squadron of the Blues and Royals, Household Cavalry Regiment.
-
- "One British soldier is missing, believed killed,
and four others are injured.
-
- "The incident is currently being investigated and
there is a suggestion that this is a blue-on-blue incident but we are unable
to confirm this before all the facts are known."
-
- The spokeswoman said she was unsure of the extent of
the other soldiers' injuries. All next of kin had been informed, she added.
-
- Death toll
-
- The latest incident bears similarities to one in the
1991 Gulf war when nine British soldiers died when their Warrior armoured
vehicles were attacked in daylight by US warplanes west of Kuwait.
-
- They were hit by rockets launched from the same A-10
aircraft.
-
- The Household Cavalry Regiment, based in Windsor, is
made up of The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals.
-
- They are the oldest and most senior regiment in the British
Army.
-
- The latest incident brings the total number of British
deaths in the campaign to 23.
-
- The bodies of 10 of the first British servicemen to die
in the war on Iraq are arriving home today.
-
- http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1085537,00.html
|
