KABUL, Afghanistan — A U.S.-led coalition airstrike hit an Afghan army checkpoint early today, killing eight soldiers, Afghan officials said.
The strike hit an army checkpoint in Sayed Kheil area of Khost province in eastern Afghanistan, said Arsallah Jamal, the province’s governor.
The potential friendly-fire incident could further strain relations between the government of President Hamid Karzai and its foreign backers.
The attack killed eight soldiers and wounded four others, two seriously, said Gen. Mohammad Zahir Azimi, the Defense Ministry spokesman.
Col. Greg Julian, the chief spokesman for the U.S. troops in Afghanistan said there was an incident in the area, but did not have further details.
“We are meeting with the (Ministry of Defense) officials to sort out the details,” Julian said.
Jamal said the U.S. and Afghan troops have been conducting operations in the region for over a week, and the army checkpoint was in a fixed location.
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