31 Americans, Seven Afghans Killed In Helicopter Crash
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - A military helicopter was shot down in eastern Afghanistan, killing 31 soldiers of U.S. special operations, most of them drive the Navy SEAL who killed Al-Qaeda of Osama bin Laden elite, with seven Afghan command. That was the worst incident of U.S. forces in the war for ten years.
Taliban have claimed responsibility for firing rockets shot down while involved in helicopter raid on a house where insurgents had gathered in Wardak province late on Friday. He said the ship was filled with the ruins of the site. Senior U.S. administration officials in Washington said that the ship was apparently shot down by insurgents. Official spoke on condition of anonymity because the incident is still under investigation.
NATO confirmed the incident occurred during the night, and that "it was the enemy activity in the region." But he said he would further investigate the cause and carry out recovery activities in the site. It does not release details of the victim or the figures"We are in the process of access to the facts," said U.S. Air Force Captain Justin Brockhoff, a NATO spokesman.
A course and a former U.S. official said the dead included more than 20 Navy SEALs Seal Team Six, the unit conducted the raid in Pakistan in May that killed bin Laden. They were taken by the 160th Special Operations Regiment acrew aviation. The two officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the families are still being reported.
Barack Obama mourned the death of American soldiers, said in a statement that the incident is a reminder of "extraordinary sacrifices" made by the U.S. Army and its families. He also said that mourning, "Afghans, who died alongside our troops."
A course and a former U.S. official said the dead included more than 20 Navy SEALs Seal Team Six, the unit conducted the raid in Pakistan in May that killed bin Laden. They were taken by the 160th Special Operations Regiment acrew aviation. The two officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the families are still being reported.
Barack Obama mourned the death of American soldiers, said in a statement that the incident is a reminder of "extraordinary sacrifices" made by the U.S. Army and its families. He also said that mourning, "Afghans, who died alongside our troops."
The death toll will exceed the worst single day loss of life of the US-led coalition in Afghanistan since the war began in 2001 - on June 28, 2005 crash of a military helicopter in eastern Kunar province. In this case, 16 Navy SEALs and special army troops killed during operations of their craft was shot down during a mission to rescue four seals attacked by the Taliban. Three of these seals are rescued were also killed and a fourth injured. It was the death toll more than a day for the staff of the Navy special warfare since the Second World War.
With rugged mountain ranges, providing shelter to militants armed with rocket launchers, eastern Afghanistan is dangerous ground for military aircraft. The large operators, the air slowly, as the Chinook CH-47 are particularly vulnerable, often obliged to make their way through sheer valleys where the insurgents can get the line of sight over the mountains of fire.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai Saturday opened the floor for the first time publicly about the accident again, saying in a statement that "a NATO helicopter crashed last night in Wardak province" and that troops killed 31 U.S. Special Operations . He expressed his condolences to President Barack Obama.
The helicopter was a twin-rotor Chinook, said an official at NATO headquarters in Brussels. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he had received his information from an Afghan officer in Kabul.
The accident took place in Sayd Abad district of Wardak province, said a provincial government spokesman, Shahid Shahidullah. The volatile borders Kabul province, where the Afghan capital, and is known for its strong presence of the Taliban.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a statement that Taliban fighters shot down the helicopter during a "bottom heavy" in Sayd Abad. He said NATO attacked a house in Sayd Abad, where insurgent fighters were meeting Friday night. During the battle, the fighters shot down the helicopter, killing 31 Americans and seven Afghans, he said, adding that eight insurgents were killed in combat.
With rugged mountain ranges, providing shelter to militants armed with rocket launchers, eastern Afghanistan is dangerous ground for military aircraft. The large operators, the air slowly, as the Chinook CH-47 are particularly vulnerable, often obliged to make their way through sheer valleys where the insurgents can get the line of sight over the mountains of fire.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai Saturday opened the floor for the first time publicly about the accident again, saying in a statement that "a NATO helicopter crashed last night in Wardak province" and that troops killed 31 U.S. Special Operations . He expressed his condolences to President Barack Obama.
The helicopter was a twin-rotor Chinook, said an official at NATO headquarters in Brussels. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he had received his information from an Afghan officer in Kabul.
The accident took place in Sayd Abad district of Wardak province, said a provincial government spokesman, Shahid Shahidullah. The volatile borders Kabul province, where the Afghan capital, and is known for its strong presence of the Taliban.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a statement that Taliban fighters shot down the helicopter during a "bottom heavy" in Sayd Abad. He said NATO attacked a house in Sayd Abad, where insurgent fighters were meeting Friday night. During the battle, the fighters shot down the helicopter, killing 31 Americans and seven Afghans, he said, adding that eight insurgents were killed in combat.
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