What is Friendly Fire?

"Friendly fire" is a military term that refers to the discharge of a weapon in the direction of fellow soldiers or allies, often resulting in injury or death. In some circles, the terms “amicide,” for killing a friend, or “fratricide,” for killing brothers in arms, are preferred to the “friendly fire” euphemism. These incidents have been a part of firearm warfare since it began, although the development of more sophisticated and deadly weapons — especially those that can be used at longer ranges — has made the problem more widespread.

In the military, the definition of friendly fire excludes incidents in which members of the military deliberately fire on their allies or fellow soldiers. Accidental shootings, such as when the weapon was accidentally fired, also are not included. The definition typically includes only shots fired during active engagements with the enemy. Known incidents of friendly fire and accidents are investigated to learn about why they happened in an effort to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Many things can lead to friendly fire. One of the most common is miscommunication, which can result in unclear orders or lack of knowledge about troop movements. Adequate communication on the battlefield can sometimes be very challenging, especially in a chaotic environment. Radios, field telephones and signaling systems are used to address the problem, which becomes much more complicated when multiple forces such as ground troops and aircraft are coordinating an attack. When allied troops are added to the mixture, maintaining lines of communication can be even more difficult, especially if there are language barriers.

Poor terrain and visibility also contribute to friendly fire. Soldiers often must fight on land with which they are not familiar. When being fired upon by enemy troops, the direction from which shots are coming can get confusing. The addition of poor weather conditions and combat stress can lead to an incident in which a soldier mistakenly believes that he or she is shooting at the enemy. When a leader issues unclear or ambiguous orders, this can also be problematic when combined with conditions that prevent soldiers from using their own judgment.

The exact number of friendly fire incidents that occur during combat is unclear. It can sometimes be difficult to determine whether a soldier has been killed by friend or foe, and soldiers have been known to conceal these incidents. Estimates suggest that 2-25 percent of war-related injuries and deaths might be caused by friendly fire. Most military organizations provide extensive training to their soldiers to try and prevent these incidents, which can affect troop morale, mission success and public image in addition to causing death or injury.