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NATO: 1 dead in Afghan 'friendly fire' incident

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(CNN) -- A friendly fire incident in southern Afghanistan on Monday "resulted in one ISAF death and multiple casualties," NATO's International Security Assistance Force said.

The incident took place around 5:30 a.m. local time (0100 GMT) during Operation Medusa, a three-day-old offensive against the Taliban in Kandahar province.

ISAF troops had been fighting Taliban insurgents in Kandahar's Panjwayi district.

"ISAF troops called for, and received, close air support. Two ISAF aircraft provided the support but regrettably engaged friendly forces during a strafing run, using cannons."

An investigation has been ordered into the incident.

Operation Medusa -- which began Saturday -- is the largest operation NATO has mounted since July 31, when it took over operations in the south of Afghanistan.

Canadian forces call it a "significant combined effort between the Afghan National Security Forces, Canada and our other NATO partners in the International Security Assistance Force."

It is described by Canada as a "large-scale ISAF stabilization operation aimed at removing armed militants from the Panjwayi and Zhari district region so that displaced villagers can return to their homes and re-establish their livelihoods without living in constant fear of the Taliban. "

During the operation on Sunday, four Canadian NATO troops were killed and nine others were wounded in fighting near Kandahar. (Full story)

NATO forces estimate that there are as many as 1,500 Taliban fighters in the region, including a few hundred regular fighters and many more local fighters hired on daily wages.

NATO reported that more than 200 Taliban fighters had been killed in the fighting, more than 80 had been captured and another 180 were seen fleeing the area.

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