Nine Iraqi soldiers have been killed by “friendly fire” from US-led coalition aircraft during an assault on an Islamic State stronghold.

The Iraqi defence minister, Khaled al-Obeidi, told a news conference that coalition air forces were supporting ground troops near Falluja, a city 30 miles west of the capital, Baghdad, when the personnel, including an officer, were killed.

Forces from Iraq’s 3rd Division 55th Brigade had been advancing on Isis positions near the city, which is the extremist group’s main stronghold in Anbar province.

“The coalition air forces were covering the advance of army ground troops near Falluja because the Iraqi army helicopters were not able to fly due to the bad weather. The final death toll of the strike is nine soldiers killed, including an army officer,” Obeidi said.

Iraq’s joint operations command, which oversees Iraq’s war effort againstIsis, said casualties occurred on both sides during the during close combat at around 1pm (1000 GMT).

“Aerial support from international coalition aircraft was requested. The coalition conducted two strikes aimed at the enemy, which resulted in significant losses among the enemy,” a statement said. “That allowed our forces to achieve quick progress and clash with the enemy in close combat.

“A third coalition strike carried out without taking into account the distance that had been covered resulted in injuries among our forces too.”

The coalition’s Baghdad-based spokesman, Col Steve Warren, told reporters that any serious allegation would be investigated.

Iraqi forces backed by daily coalition airstrikes have been battling jihadi fighters in Anbar province’s capital, Ramadi, further west of Falluja.



The injured were taken to Yarmouk hospital in Baghdad, where chaotic scenes reportedly unfolded as soldiers and family members crammed the entrance and hallways.

“At first, we thought it was something fired by Daesh [Isis],” one army soldier told the Washington Post. “The explosion was very big. We ran. I saw many dead bodies. I saw that one of my friends had lost a leg.”

Brett McGurk, the US special envoy to the anti-Isis coalition, vowed a thorough investigation.

We will conduct a thorough investigation and express deepest condolences for any loss of life among brave Iraqi soldiers fighting #ISIL. 2/2 — Brett McGurk (@brett_mcgurk) December 19, 2015

A statement from the US-led coalition said: “Despite coordination with the Iraqi security forces on the ground, initial reports indicate the possibility one of the strikes resulted in the death of Iraqi soldiers.

“All of our airstrikes in Iraq are conducted with the approval of the government of Iraq in order to assist them in their fight against Daesh; we take great measures to prevent these types of incidents while protecting our partnered forces.”