2 killed in Afghanistan helicopter crash
From Masoud Popalzai, CNN
May 28, 2012 — Updated 1603 GMT (0003 HKT)
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- NEW: Three police and four tribal elders are killed in a roadside bombing
- Two helicopter crashes occur Monday, the ISAF says
- The Taliban claims responsibility, but ISAF says it had no reports of enemy activity in the area
- A third service member died in an insurgent attack, the coalition says
Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) — Two International Security Assistance Force troops were killed in one of two helicopter crashes Monday in eastern Afghanistan, officials said.
Separately, three police and four tribal elders were killed in a roadside bombing, police said.
The first helicopter crash, during a routine operation, did not result in any fatalities, said ISAF spokesman Capt. Justin Brockhoff. Two died in the second crash, ISAF said.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in an e-mail that the two helicopters were shot down and 36 soldiers died, but ISAF said there were no reports of enemy activity in the area where the crashes occurred.
A third ISAF service member died Monday in an insurgent attack in southern Afghanistan, the coalition said in a news release. No further details were released on the attack or the crashes.
After the first crash, those on board the chopper were taken to a NATO facility for evaluation. The crash did not harm civilians or damage property, ISAF said.
Some previous helicopter crashes involving ISAF members were the result of enemy fire, while others were for mechanical reasons.
The single deadliest loss for U.S. troops since the Afghan war began in late 2001 happened in August. Thirty U.S. service members died when a helicopter carrying them went down while they were reinforcing other troops, officials said. Seven Afghan troops died as well.
A U.S. military official said then that insurgents were believed to have shot down the CH-47 Chinook. The Taliban said that militants downed the helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade.
More recently, 12 people died in March when a helicopter crashed in Afghanistan’s capital city, Kabul. And in April, the Taliban claimed responsibility for downing a Black Hawk helicopter in southern Afghanistan.
The roadside bombing Monday struck a car in northern Baghlan province. All seven in the car died, police said.
The Taliban claimed responsibility in a text message from Mujahid. The police were targeted, he said.
Part of complete coverage on
Her story of torture by the Taliban made her the iconic face of the oppression of women in Afghanistan.
May 22, 2012 — Updated 1055 GMT (1855 HKT)
In parts of rural Afghanistan a fierce battle is going on between the Taliban and the country’s government. And the victims in this battle, it seems, are school children.
May 22, 2012 — Updated 1336 GMT (2136 HKT)
NATO leaders signed off on Obama’s exit strategy from Afghanistan that calls for an end to combat operations next year and the withdrawal of the U.S.-led forces by the end of 2014.
May 18, 2012 — Updated 1953 GMT (0353 HKT)
Some Afghans say the NATO exit plan are short on specifics and do not fully tackle the political, economic and regional challenges.
If U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher is looking for a country to visit, he can cross Afghanistan off his list.
May 21, 2012 — Updated 2316 GMT (0716 HKT)
CNN’s Wolf Blitzer and Afghan President Hamid Karzai discuss Obama, Romney and Ben Kingsley
May 22, 2012 — Updated 2056 GMT (0456 HKT)
Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, is expected to step down this summer after a year in the job, the U.S. Embassy in Kabul said.
May 16, 2012 — Updated 2045 GMT (0445 HKT)
When it comes to negotiating with the Taliban, it’s always one step forward, two steps back.
May 19, 2012 — Updated 0827 GMT (1627 HKT)
NATO forces are here until 2014, but each day the demands on them lessen as Afghan forces take on more responsibility.
May 15, 2012 — Updated 1537 GMT (2337 HKT)
Nearly 400 boys at a school in Afghanistan’s Khost province fell ill after drinking water from a well that may have been poisoned, a health official said Tuesday.
May 9, 2012 — Updated 1559 GMT (2359 HKT)
Last year, people around the world were outraged when they heard the story of Sahar Gul.
April 19, 2012 — Updated 1202 GMT (2002 HKT)
Will the latest incident involving leaked photos damage the U.S. mission in Afghanistan? Experts weigh in.
April 17, 2012 — Updated 1410 GMT (2210 HKT)
When Afghan forces repelled a barrage attacks from insurgents near Kabul’s green zone it was hailed as proof of how far local security forces had come.
Read more:
Recent Comments