The US Air Force has apologised for posting a tweet making a joke about internet phenomenon Yanny or Laurel in the context of the war in Afghanistan.
On its main account, the force juxtaposed the viral sensation with military action against Taliban forces.
The US military has been involved amid intense fighting in the city of Farah in Afghanistan, providing air support with A-10 attack aircraft and drones.
The offending tweet said: "The Taliban forces in Farah city #Afghanistan would much rather have heard #Yanny or #Laurel than the deafening #BRRRT they got courtesy of our #A10." The #BRRRT was meant to suggest the sound of gun fire.
The tweet linked the 16-year war to an audio clip circulating on the internet which saw millions of people divided over whether they heard the word ‘Yanny’ or ‘Laurel’.
After questions at a Pentagon briefing about whether the tweet was appropriate, the Air Force deleted it and expressed regrets for the poor attempt at humour.
"We apologise for the earlier tweet regarding the A-10. It was made in poor taste and we are addressing it internally. It has since been removed," it said.
