Pentagon Investigators To Check Death Of US Troops In Afghanistan

Pentagon Investigators To Check Death Of US Troops In Afghanistan

US officials revealed that an investigation is being undertaken by the Pentagon on the possibility that six US troops may have been killed by enemy fire following a helicopter crash in Afghanistan last Tuesday. One official revealed that it remains uncertain how the soldiers were killed. It also has to be determined if the crash killed the soldiers or they were killed by enemy fire after the helicopter crashed.

The death toll was the deadliest for US forces based in Afghanistan following a helicopter crash that killed seven Americans together with four Afghans in 2012.

The Pentagon revealed that initial reports pointed to the possibility that the six International Security Assistance Force members were killed after their helicopter crashed. Mechanical failure was one of the possible reasons for the crash, according to military officials. During this time there were no signs of enemy activity within the area where NATO forces frequently moved around.

However, some questions emerged on the possibility that the soldiers came under mortar fire after surviving the helicopter crash. One official revealed that there were speculations that the enemy engaged the troops after the crash.

The officials asked to remain anonymous due to the uncertainty over the situation. However, they highlighted the fact that it remains uncertain if the US troops were killed by enemy fire. It was necessary to interview the members of the crew of another helicopter flying within the area.

Autopsies will have to be conducted and an examination of the wreckage would have to be done by investigators. The incident investigated by Pentagon officials increased the number of American troops killed in the Operation Enduring Freedom for 2013 to 129.

Posted by James Fried on Thursday December 19 2013, 5:59 AM EST. Ref: CNN. Link. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, World. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0