BAGHDAD — A coalition air strike mistakenly hit friendly Iraqi forces and civilians in western Anbar Saturday, according to senior Iraqi officers, but the U.S.-led coalition said the matter is still under investigation. The military aircraft mistakenly fired at a gathering of Iraqi tribal fighters allied with the central government and civilians in western Anbar, killing seven and wounding 11 others, according to two senior Iraqi officers. The strike occurred after U.S.-backed Iraqi forces arrested an Islamic State group operative in the early hours of Saturday morning, according to accounts from both the coalition and the Iraqi officers. Iraqi Shiite firebrand cleric Muqtada al-Sadr condemned the attack as a “flagrant violation” against the Iraqi government and its independence and sovereignty. The U.S.-led coalition has closely supported Iraqi military advances against IS with air strikes for over three years.

Source: National Post January 27, 2018 10:30 UTC