Iraqi soldiers killed in US air strike 'mistake'

US defence secretary Ash Carter has said an American air strike that may have killed a number of Iraqi soldiers seems to have been “a mistake that involved both sides”.

Mr Carter, speaking during a visit to the USS Kearsarge in the Persian Gulf, said he has telephoned Iraqi prime minister Haider al-Abadi to express condolences.

The US military said the air strike on Friday against Islamic State targets may have resulted in the death of Iraqi soldiers near the city of Fallujah.

The military did not say how many may have been killed, but other sources said that about 10 people had died.

The air strike came in response to requests and information provided by Iraqi security forces on the ground near Fallujah, which IS controls, the US military added.