U.S. airstrike kills at least 7 Iraqis in friendly fire, local forces say

 At least seven Iraqi police and allied militia members died in a U.S.-led coalition airstrike early Saturday that was targeting armed insurgents, Iraqi forces said.


The airstrike was in support of an Iraqi military raid that was searching in the Anbar province town of al-Baghdadi for an Islamic State leader who was convening with members of a "terrorist cell" in Baghdadi.

After the militant was arrested, the Iraqi forces encountered an armed group of policemen and locals they thought were hostile.

U.S. helicopters opened fire, according to a statement from Joint Operations Command, which coordinates Iraqi forces and the coalition.

Iraqi and U.S. officials in Baghdad are investigating the incident.
 (UPI)
 27/1/18