Sat, Feb 03, 2007
Hostile Fire Suspected; Fourth Downing In Two Weeks
Officials with the US military tell
ANN two US soldiers were killed Friday morning when their
Multinational Division Baghdad helicopter crashed while conducting
operations approximately 12 miles northwest of the Iraqi capital,
near Taji.
The military did not specify the type of helicopter, or what
caused the aircraft to go down. An investigation is under way to
determine the cause of the crash, and operations continue in the
area, officials said.
Iraqi witnesses state two helicopters were flying in formation
when gunmen opened fire. Taji is home to a coalition air base.
Officials said the soldiers' bodies have been recovered and the
site has been secured.
Friday's crash was the fourth helicopter to be lost in Iraq
since January 20. The three previous crashes -- two military
helicopters, and one civilian aircraft -- are believed to also have
been caused by enemy fire.
The Associated Press reports comments made Friday by General
Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, support those
assertions. In his comments, General Pace notes that "ground fire
... has been more effective against our helicopters in the last
couple weeks."
"I've taken a hard look at that, don't know whether or not this
is statistically what's going to happen over time, when you're
flying at that level and people are shooting at you, or if this is
some kind of new tactics or techniques that we need to adjust to,"
Pace added.
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