9 NATO Troops Killed in Afghan Helicopter Crash
- Posted on September 21, 2010 at 8:16am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A NATO helicopter crashed Tuesday in southern Afghanistan, killing nine international troops in a region where forces are ramping up pressure on Taliban insurgents. It was the deadliest chopper crash for the coalition in four years.
The cause was not immediately clear. The Taliban claimed to have shot down the helicopter, but NATO said there were no reports of hostile fire.
It happened in Zabul province – rugged terrain where helicopters are heavily used to transport military troops spread over mountainous terrain with few roads.
The nationalities of the service members who died have not been released. So far this year, 525 U.S. and NATO forces have been killed in Afghanistan, surpassing the 504 killed last year. This year has been the deadliest for international forces since the war began in 2001.
One other coalition service member, an Afghan National Army soldier and a U.S. civilian were injured.
A NATO official speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to disclose the information said the crash occurred in northwestern Zabul. Mohammad Jan Rasoolyar, a spokesman for the provincial governor in Zabul, said the helicopter went down in Daychopan district.
“I was sitting taking my tea,” said Nakeemullah, 20, who works transporting livestock in the area. “I heard noise and I went outside to see what happened.
“I saw a lot of smoke in the sky,” said Nakeemullah, who uses only one name. “It was far away for me, but I could see that it was a helicopter and it went down on the backside of the mountain where I couldn’t see.”
NATO said there were no reports of enemy fire in the area. However, Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousef Ahmadi, told The Associated Press by telephone that insurgents shot down the helicopter. The Taliban often exaggerate their claims and sometimes taking credit for accidents.
Most helicopter crashes in the country have been accidents caused by maintenance problems or factors such as dust.
Before this latest event, the worst helicopter crash for coalition forces was in May 2006, a Chinook crashed attempting a nighttime landing on a small mountaintop in eastern Kunar province, killing 10 U.S. soldiers. That followed on a 2005 crash in Kunar that killed 16 Americans. In February 2007, a Chinook helicopter crashed in Zabul, killing eight U.S. personnel.
The most recent helicopter crash occurred in southern Kandahar province in August when a Canadian Chinook was shot down, injuring eight Canadians.
Afghan troops have been killed in helicopter crashes as well.
In January 2009, a top Afghan Army general for the western region of Afghanistan and 12 others were killed when their MI-17 helicopter went down in Shindand district of Herat province in western Afghanistan.
—
Associated Press Writer Mirwais Khan in Kandahar contributed to this report.
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TEAFORTWO
Posted on September 22, 2010 at 11:34amTo the brave men…God will comfort your souls!!
Report Post »To the families, your sons died for the noble cause of freedom!!!
To America, GOD BLESS!!!
NHABE64
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 4:33pmGod bless these heroes, I am sure they are in the loving arms of our dear CHRISTIAN God right now. May they rest in peace and may they know we love them.
Report Post »A Vietnam Vet
1SSF
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 2:43pmGod speed, Men. God speed . . .
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 12:38pmAmerican NEWS reports these as American soldiers. When Americans die in combat, I want to know that they are ours. I don’t want to hear some diluted globalist picture. These young men and women are the bravest we have to offer and are among the very smallest numbers as a percentage of Americans. God bless each and every one.
Report Post »moelarrycurly
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 2:58pmagreed! I am left with a bad taste in my mouth from the either shoddy reporting or the poor attempt to elevate NATO to the level of a sovereign country with it’s own military. My son just came back from Bahrain. I am a happy man to see him return safely. But my eyes tear at even the thought that there is even one Father or mother that can never hold their child again. Let our military go and win-rules of engagement be damned. Go to win and don‘t stop until they can’t shoot back. God bless all of you-your all in my prayers.
Report Post »Gary Cook
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 12:31pmNine soldiers died, not nine troops.
Report Post »VShagios
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 11:54amWe haven’t heard from my brother yet, a Blackhawk pilot in this area, but since it‘s in the news and we haven’t been contacted, he is probably well. Please keep all of our troops in your prayers.
Report Post »DanSt
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 1:36pmYour brother, as well as all our brave protectors, are in the thoughts and prayers of all those who love freedom…Godspeed to a successful end…
Report Post »TattooQ
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 10:06amMay God bless the souls of the departed and hold them and their families in the palm of His hand .
Report Post »carrera
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 9:53amhttp://www.stratfor.com is a geo-political website that chronicles our challenges with our Military and Foreign policy. It encompasses all aspects of World news. It is not biased. Although you must be a paid subscriber to access the entire site they do offer free articles. What is transpiring with our Foreign policy is frightening. Keep our brave Troops in your prayers, they have never been more compromised.
Report Post »missmarie
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 9:52amI pray for the families of these brave soldiers, may the Lord comfort them. I pray for military personnel around the world every day. I thank God for our veterans every single day. Without these courageous souls, my life would not be free.
Report Post »no one in particular
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 9:48amFRANCE WARNS OF TERROR THREAT
…Opposition MPs have suggested the government may be using the “terror card” to distract from a political financing scandal embroiling the labour minister and the international uproar on the repatriation of Roma from France.
…“On Salafist websites, close to al Qaeda, there have been more calls against France and communication has been intercepted from (al Qaeda’s) Abu Yahya al-Libi to AQIM to attack France as a priority,” Roland Jacquard of the International Terrorism Observatory in Paris told Reuters Television. [sic]
MORE: http://www.euronews.net/newswires/485665-france-warns-of-terror-threat/
Report Post »DanSt
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 9:38amOn many other blogs I’ve been quite clear about where I stand on Afghanistan. We need to leave immediately, but on the way out level the mountain passages along the Pakistani border so we will find out once and for all if the Pakistanis are sincere in wanting to rid themselves of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, or, as I suspect, they’ve been playing us for decades…
The Afghans live in the 7th century and their claim to fame is producing poppies that poison the weak of the world…it’s time to stop allowing Barry to endanger our bravest…he never had any intention of winning in Afghanistan…I truly believe he takes pleasure in the death of our bravest..and I take no joy in saying that…
Just a note: My son is an Iraq war veteran and is currently employed as a military contractor…His on the ground evaluation is that Obama’s insistence on vacating Iraq for political gain could very well reverse the gains that have brought Iraq this far…Barry needs to do some homework and find out exactly how long it took these United States to finally form our government…for a “constitutional scholar” he doesn’t know shid about America…our troops deserve much better…either turn them loose…or bring them home…
Report Post »Polwatcher
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 9:55amI agree. BTW, my grandson is on his way to Iraq as we speak. God love all our troops! They are all unbelievably great.
Report Post »wingedwolf
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 10:34amMy deepest heartfelt prayers for your grandson’s swift and unharmed return, and for all of your family. Thank you for your service! (family also serves and sacrifices time with their loved one while they are away.) LOL LOL LOL!!!
Report Post »AnAverageAmerican
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 12:19pm“either turn them loose…or bring them home…”
Needed repeating.
Report Post »moelarrycurly
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 9:35am“9 international troops” No mention of what countries they are from. US or otherwise. Just that they were NATO troops. Forgive me for being old fashioned. I’d like to know which allied countries are standing shoulder to shoulder with us. And I don’t like it when NATO is made to appear as a sovereign entity-even if by omission.
Report Post »wingedwolf
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 10:31amAmen! If you watch cartoons and are old enough to remember when they were newer, like me, you‘ll hear the indoctrination beginning in the very early 70’s. Where Porky pig, in the 60′s when I was a child, USED to say, “I’d do anything for the United States forces,” he began to say, “I’d do anything for the united nations forces!” Check it out if possible. LOL
Report Post »NOMORECZARS
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 9:17amMy prayers and thoughts are with our brave soldiers who are all volunteers. I will keep those servicemembers that we lost today in my thoughts and prayers and I will also be praying for their family and friends.
Report Post »Polwatcher
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 9:03amMy prayers are with all of our soldiers and their families. They deserve our love and support.
Report Post »Chris
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 8:45amGod Bless our soldiers and their families. My heart aches for their losses.
Report Post »ishka4me
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 10:05amYes, these are true patriots, all volunteers who put themselves in harms way for all of the United States. I will pray for them, their comrades and the President to bring a swift victory. Let us win this and bring them home, take politics out of it.
Report Post »