Pule Alam, Afghanistan: NATO is investigating reports that at least nineAfghan police officers were killed in a US air strike during heavy fightingwith the Taliban in eastern Afghanistan, its mission said Tuesday.

Afghan officials have confirmed the deaths, with interior ministryspokesman Nasrat Rahimi saying nine police were killed and 14 wounded inthe aerial bombardment in Azra district of Logar province.

During the hours-long battle with insurgents overnight, police “called inair support but unfortunately foreign forces mistakenly bombed theirpositions”, Rahimi said.

The Taliban also suffered heavy losses, he added.

Provincial council chief Hamidullah Hamid told AFP “foreign forces” hadmistakenly bombed two police checkpoints and killed “about 15 police”.

Resolute Support, NATO´s mission in Afghanistan, confirmed US forces hadconducted an air strike “in defense of Afghan forces” in Azra district butdid not mention casualties.

“We are looking into the matter further,” spokesman Lieutenant ColonelMartin O´Donnell told AFP.

The US is the only international force known to be carrying out air strikesin Afghanistan. The Afghan air force also carries out some attacks.

There are about 14,000 US ground troops in Afghanistan, making up the bulkof NATO´s mission to support and train local forces.

Some of the US forces are involved in counter-terrorism operations,particularly against Daesh militant group. – APP/AFP