World

7 American Troops Killed in Afghan Helicopter Crash — Taliban Claims Responsibility

KABUL, Afghanistan (The Blaze/AP) — Seven American troops were among the 11 people killed in a Blackhawk helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan on Thursday, NATO’s International Security Assistance Force said.

A Taliban spokesman said the insurgents shot down the aircraft, but NATO said the cause of the crash was still under investigation.

A spokesman for the alliance, Jamie Graybeal, said seven American service members were among the dead in Thursday’s crash of a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter. He said four Afghans died – a civilian interpreter and three members of the Afghan security forces.

Graybeal declined to give any details of the aircraft’s mission.

Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi said insurgent fighters shot down the helicopter in Kandahar province on Thursday morning.

“Nobody survived this,” Ahmadi told The Associated Press by phone.

The coalition did not comment on the Taliban claims.

The helicopter went down in Kandahar’s Shah Wali Kot district, which lies in the northern part of the province, a spokesman for the provincial government said.

“We don’t know if it was shot down by the Taliban, or if it had mechanical problems,” said the spokesman, Ahmad Jawed Faisal.

Last August, insurgents shot down a Chinook helicopter, killing 30 Americans, most of whom were elite Navy SEALs, in Afghanistan’s central Wardak province.

At least 221 American service members have been killed in Afghanistan so far this year.

Comments (32)

  • ContinentalArmy
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 7:05pm

    Whats the problem Blaze, Can’t handle the Truth!

    Report Post »  
  • ContinentalArmy
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 7:02pm

    Where is the common sense of losing American Soldiers lives in another lost cause? These so-called Police actions are so comparable to Korea and Viet Nam!! Time to stop the Murders of American Soldiers, let these Countries Fight their own battles! Bring our Soldiers Home!

    Report Post »  
  • susie4dy
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 4:53pm

    Why not bring our troops home to their families!

    Report Post » susie4dy  
  • flsnipe
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 11:42am

    My thoughts and prayers go out to all the family and friends of those killed.

    Report Post » flsnipe  
  • LukeAppling
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 11:36am

    Obama has stopped the war but the deaths of the military continue. If the war is over bring them home alive! Obama is doing everything he can to get reelected and he doesn’t deserve reelection he deserves ousting for his failed policies on virtually everything he has done.I will be gad to list his failures but they are well-known please look them up the man has been a debacle as President. It isn’t color it is is lack of any experience other than running for office in safe black, Chicago districts.

    Report Post »  
  • KangarooJack
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 11:20am

    Add your comments

    Report Post » KangarooJack  
  • barber2
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 11:14am

    Think Bush thought that if the Iraqis had a taste of freedom that it would spread though out the Middle East. Guess he was wrong. The intense hatred and bullying power of the Muslim political fanatics make that impossible. Sad that so many fine people died trying to give them something that hate made impossible. Sad that hate and evil are so powerful.

    Report Post »  
    • mapgirl10
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 11:39am

      Marines

      Report Post »  
    • resme
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 12:19pm

      Freedom via a democracy. Who do you think a nation that is almost 100% muslim is going to elect? It was never about freedom, It was about oil and destabilization.

      Report Post » resme  
  • zoro51
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:39am

    murdering muslums care not for they are in a man made CULT of hate n death there IS no ALLAH thats a LIE a false stone idol all muslums worship.. thier so called religion of peace is but a FARCE no MURDERING MUSLUMS kill or be killed.. they should all die

    Report Post » zoro51  
  • watashbuddyfriend
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:38am

    Are you sure the crash was not caused by lax maintenance of equipment?

    Report Post »  
    • LTinUT
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:54am

      My nephew’s job is to maintain and fix black hawks. He has to fly in the copters he maintains and would never step inside one unless he knew it was maintained properly.

      Report Post » LTinUT  
  • sgtbrown01
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:32am

    Always is bad to hear news like this …bless those lost and those still there…always support the troops ….. our problem is the leaders who cut their funding, give them crappy rules of engagement… dont provide the biggest and baddest weapon systems on the planet to get the job done…and most of all Damb the leaders who lack the clear vision to do what is right.

    Report Post »  
  • GlennaBeckski
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:23am

    Add your comments

    Report Post » GlennaBeckski  
  • LTinUT
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:06am

    My nephew, just made a Sergeant, is a black hawk helicopter gunner in Afghanistan… still waiting to hear if he is OK. He lost four from his unit in April. He has a wife and 2 little ones waiting to hear if he is OK. Now, if he were a good nephew he would have logged onto Facebook by now so I can see him.

    Report Post » LTinUT  
    • Mutiny
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:16am

      I pray he is fine.

      Report Post » Mutiny  
    • momrules
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:23am

      LT……….Let’s just hope he is really busy this morning and will let you all know he is OK soon. God bless him.

      Report Post »  
    • GlennaBeckski
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:29am

      Amen to that Mutiny… Lord, I pray a hedge of protection around all our troops both overseas and at home. Grant Your perfect peace and comfort to the families of our fallen.. I pray that they all knew You as Lord and Savior and are in Your Holy Presence now.

      Have mercy on our nation … as we go forward into this life changing election.

      Report Post » GlennaBeckski  
    • KangarooJack
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 11:19am

      Prayers from my family to yours that he is safe.

      Report Post » KangarooJack  
    • LTinUT
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 12:50pm

      My nephew is OK! He just got off duty (which is why we didn’t hear from him right away). He can’t give us details or even tell us if he knows any of those who were killed. The details are usually released in two days. Our family is grateful and thanking God but also praying for the families whose lives have changed today.

      Report Post » LTinUT  
    • GlennaBeckski
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 1:53pm

      That’s great your nephew is alive and well !! How sad for those who have lost loved ones..

      How desperately we need a Commander in Chief who is deserving of the devotion .. loyalty ..courage and sacrifices our military and their families extend.

      Report Post » GlennaBeckski  
  • kcares
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:03am

    Bless these families. Get out of Afghan. Why isn’t the press calling Pres. Odummer a killer?

    Report Post » kcares  
    • Want our country back
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:54am

      The dishonest media we have could be the death of all of us. Under President Bush we got a daily count of our fallen heroes and pictures/videos of flag draped coffins. When was the last time you heard or saw (IN BOLD TYPE) the number of military MURDERED under this horrific administration, this lying media and these ungrateful countries.

      Report Post » Want our country back  
    • barber2
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 11:09am

      The Media is the propaganda arm of the Democrat Party. Don’t ever expect anything but bias from them. That is why this classless, bullying bunch is now Occupying the White House. No matter who is in the White House, the media is an arm of the Democrat Party. Sad but true.

      Report Post »  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 9:54am

    God be with the families of the fallen, get our troops home safe and sound and whole; and may Obama the traitor be removed form office soon.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • OLDPAINT
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 9:54am

    11 more souls gone. The why is the worst. Godspeed them Home. :(:::::::::::::

    Report Post » OLDPAINT  
  • momrules
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 9:53am

    God in Heaven please be with the families of the fallen.

    Now BRING OUR TROOPS HOME or let them fight to win this stupid, drawn out, endless war!!!

    Report Post »  
  • Tigress1
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 9:52am

    I thought King Obama was going to get us out of these wars?

    We got Bin Laden. Now let’s leave…and don’t rebuild. It might keep the terrorists busy with something other than killing people.

    Report Post » Tigress1  
  • barber2
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 9:50am

    Thanks, Obama. Nothing like announcing our departure date to embolden the enemy. Shades of Lady Macbeth. But am sure without the conscience to create the nightmares…

    Report Post »  
    • Mutiny
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:15am

      Yeah not like saying we will be pulling out in 2024 to really rally the enemies. We shouldnt be there. Our foreign policy puts us in more danger. We just have too many stupid people in this country who would vote for any one the political pundits on tv tell them to.

      Report Post » Mutiny  
    • barber2
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 11:06am

      Mutiny: Guess you are one of the old General-Be-tray-us crowd . Read comments like yours in the New York Times way back in the Bush years. All were madly rooting for Obama , trashing American imperialism , the American military, and Republicans . Guess nothing has changed !

      Report Post »  
  • IMCHRISTIAN
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 9:50am

    My thoughts and prayers go out to all the family and friends of those killed. God Bless them for the time served to keep us safe.

    Report Post »  

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