The Toll Of Friendly Fire In Afghanistan: A Human Cost

Friendly fire has been a problem for as long as war has been a solution. In recorded military history, there have been thousands of friendly fire incidents, accounting for an estimated 2% to 20% of all casualties in battle.

The war in Afghanistan, which began with friendly fire, seems to be ending the same way. On December 5, 2001, a 2,000-pound bomb killed three US Special Forces north of Kandahar. The incident occurred because the controller on the ground who called in the airstrike changed the battery on his GPS device mid-operation, causing the aim point to shift to his own location.

On June 9, 2014, five Americans and an Afghan soldier died when an Air Force B-1 bomber dropped two 500-pound bombs on them during a nighttime firefight. The Pentagon said it is investigating the likelihood that friendly fire was the cause of the six deaths.

Friendly fire casualties have occurred occasionally in the years since, as coalition forces engaged in heavy fighting, particularly in the restive south and east of the country.

The deadliest friendly fire incident in the Afghan War for U.S. soldiers involved a B-1 bomber

The Afghan War's deadliest friendly fire incident involving U.S. soldiers took place on June 9, 2014, when an Air Force B-1 bomber dropped two 500-lb bombs on U.S. and Afghan soldiers during a nighttime firefight with Taliban forces in the Gaza Valley of Zabul Province, Afghanistan. Five U.S. soldiers and one Afghan interpreter were killed in what was the deadliest incident of fratricide between American forces in the country since the beginning of the Afghanistan War.

The U.S. and Afghan forces were conducting security operations ahead of the 2014 Afghan presidential elections when they came under attack from Taliban militants. An American air controller on the ground requested close air support from a B-1 bomber to support a team of soldiers maneuvering on a ridge. However, due to a combination of poor communication, inadequate planning, and technical limitations, the bomber dropped its ordnance on the U.S. and Afghan soldiers instead of the intended target.

The investigation into the incident found that the key members executing the close air support mission collectively failed to effectively execute standard tactics, techniques, and procedures, resulting in poor situational awareness and improper target identification. The report also revealed that the B-1 bomber's targeting pod had a flaw that prevented the aircrew from being able to identify the infrared strobes on the helmets of American soldiers, which are used to distinguish friendly troops from enemy troops.

The incident raised questions about the standard operating procedures of U.S. troops and their close air support assets, and the families of the fallen soldiers were briefed on the investigation's findings. While those directly involved in the incident faced various consequences, from demotion to the end of their military careers, the B-1 bomber's targeting system still cannot detect infrared strobes as of 2024. This has led to concerns that a similar incident could occur in the future, putting U.S. service members at risk.

Friendly fire incidents are responsible for a small percentage of coalition deaths in the Afghanistan War

Friendly fire incidents have been a part of military history for centuries, with thousands of such incidents recorded. The rate of friendly fire, once adjusted for the number of troops committed to battle, has remained stable over the past 200 years. While friendly fire incidents are responsible for a small percentage of coalition deaths in the Afghanistan War, they often receive a lot of attention.

The Afghanistan War, which began with friendly fire, seems to be ending in a similar fashion. On December 5, 2001, a 2,000-pound bomb killed three US Special Forces soldiers north of Kandahar due to a GPS error. In June 2014, five Americans and an Afghan soldier died when an Air Force B-1 bomber dropped two 500-pound bombs on them during a nighttime firefight. This incident, which is considered one of the deadliest friendly fire incidents for US soldiers, brought the total number of international coalition deaths in the Afghanistan War to over 3,400, with more than 2,175 of those being Americans.

Friendly fire incidents have occurred throughout the Afghanistan War, with some of the more notable ones being:

• April 2002: An American F-16 dropped a laser-guided bomb on Canadian troops conducting night exercises, killing four and injuring eight.
• April 2004: Former NFL player Pat Tillman was killed in a firefight between two US units that mistook each other for the enemy.
• March 2003: As many as ten Marines were killed by US airstrikes when a Marine air controller mistook their vehicles for enemy forces.
• December 2001: Three American soldiers and five Afghans died when a B-52 bomber dropped a 2,000-pound bomb on a battalion command post occupied by American forces and Afghan allies, including future president Hamid Karzai.

The U.S. Air Force A-10 attack jet has been involved in the most friendly fire incidents, killing 10 U.S. troops since 2001

Since 2001, the A-10 has been involved in four friendly fire incidents, which is the highest number of incidents for any aircraft flown by the U.S. military. The next highest is the B-1B bomber, which killed five soldiers in a single incident. Friendly fire deaths are exceptionally rare, with only 45 incidents out of about 140,000 missions flown by the Air Force, Navy and Marines.

The deadliest friendly fire incident involving the A-10 occurred in June 2014, when five Americans and an Afghan soldier died after an Air Force B-1 bomber dropped two 500-lb bombs on them during a nighttime firefight. The soldiers wore infrared strobe lights on their helmets to distinguish themselves from enemy fighters, but the Air Force crew flying the B-1 bomber could not see the soldiers' strobes.

The 2004 friendly-fire death of Pat Tillman, a former NFL player, brought attention to the issue

The 2004 death of Pat Tillman, a former NFL player, brought attention to the issue of friendly fire. Tillman was a celebrated figure who gave up a lucrative NFL contract to join the military after the September 11 attacks. His death in Afghanistan was initially reported as a heroic act, with the Pentagon claiming he had been killed by enemy fire. However, it later emerged that Tillman had been killed by friendly fire, shot by his own comrades. The incident sparked outrage and led to multiple investigations, revealing a series of command failures and a subsequent cover-up.

Tillman's death highlighted the human cost of friendly fire, with his family and platoon mates suffering trauma and grief compounded by the military's deception. The incident also drew attention to the issue of accountability, with those responsible for the decisions that led to Tillman's death never facing full consequences.

Tillman's story underscores the devastating impact of friendly fire, not only on those directly involved but also on their loved ones. It raises questions about military transparency, accountability, and the treatment of soldiers and their families. Tillman's legacy continues to inspire efforts to seek the truth and bring closure to those affected by such incidents.

In 2001, three U.S. Special Forces were killed in a friendly fire incident north of Kandahar

On December 5, 2001, three U.S. Special Forces soldiers were killed in a friendly fire incident north of Kandahar. The incident occurred when a U.S. B-52 bomber dropped a 2,000-pound bomb on the soldiers' position, mistaking it for that of the enemy. The controller on the ground who called in the airstrike had changed the battery on his GPS device mid-operation, causing the aim point to shift to his own location.

The three soldiers killed were Master Sergeant Jefferson Donald Davis, Sergeant First Class Daniel Henry Petithory, and Staff Sergeant Brian Cody Prosser. They were all senior enlisted men with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group, based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

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