According to NBC News, the Iraqi air force last month dropped supplies meant for their own army troops on positions occupied by ISIL militants.
A brigadier-general in Iraq’s Defense Ministry, who declined to be named, confirmed the incident, which occurred on Sept. 19. “Yes, that’s what had happened,” the officer said, adding that some air force pilots “do not have enough experience … they are all young and new.” Both Al-Zamili and the brigadier-general said there would be an investigation to determine the cause of the blunder.
Inexperienced pilots is one explanation. It still leaves a lot of unanswered questions, like:
- • Did anyone consider the pilots may secretly work for ISIL?
- • Were the pilots texting and flying?
- • If they dropped supplies on ISIL, then what the hell did they drop on their own troops?
Whatever the case, it’s too bad ISIL won’t take the drop as an extended hand of friendship instead of a grade ‘A’ screw-up.
