Army chopper goes down in Afghanistan

[unknownprince]

Army chopper goes down in Afghanistan
Wed Jun 15, 2011 3:48PM
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PressTV - Army chopper goes down in Afghanistan
At least five foreign nationals have been injured in a helicopter crash in the troubled eastern Afghan Province of Kunar, officials say.


Police officials say the Afghan army helicopter went down as it was trying to land in a military base, a Press TV correspondent reported.

Three of the injured were NATO translators. The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the incident.

Militants say all onboard were killed when the helicopter crashed.

Elsewhere, another foreign soldier was killed in the volatile south. The nationality of the soldier is still unknown.

The death brings to at least 242 the number of foreign troops killed in Afghanistan so far this year.

The Taliban has made several claims of having shot down several aircraft and NATO helicopters in different parts of Afghanistan over the past few months.

The war in Afghanistan has become the longest in US history. With civilian and military casualties at record highs, many question the motives behind the conflict.

More than nine years after the invasion, US-led forces have failed to ensure security in Afghanistan.

JR/HGH/MGH

[unknownprince]

6 injured in chopper crash in E. Afghanistan, Taliban claim responsibility

6 injured in chopper crash in E. Afghanistan, Taliban claim responsibility


ASSADABAD, Afghanistan, June 15 (Xinhua) -- A helicopter crashed in Kunar province 185 km east of capital city Kabul on Wednesday, an official said.
"The chopper crashed in Mandapul, a suburban area of provincial capital Assadabad, at around 10 a.m. local time today. As a result, four foreigners and two Afghans were injured," spokesman for provincial administration, Wasifullah Wasifi, told Xinhua.
However, he did not give further details.
The mountainous Kunar province along the border with pakistan' s tribal areas has been the scene of militancy over the past couple of years.
Helicopters mostly from NATO-led troops often fly over the militancy-hit areas in Afghanistan.
Meantime, Zabihullah Mujahid, who claims to speak for the Taliban outfit in talks with media via telephone from unknown location, claimed the Taliban insurgents shot down a NATO-led forces chopper, killing all aboard.