Rescue operations are under way across Afghanistan, after three helicopters crashed in a series of pre-dawn sorties, leaving at least four US troops dead and two others seriously injured.
Two helicopters collided in mid-air, in the South of the country, while a third went down under heavy fire in the West, moments after extracting soldiers from a daring night raid against one of the region�s most wanted drug-smugglers. US officials said that hostile fire was not involved in the mid-air collision, but they are still investigating the cause of the second crash.
The soldiers injured in the collision were evacuated to military hospitals, but a rescue operation to recover casualties from the second crash was still ongoing, officials said.
Elite US troops had launched an airborne assault against a compound in western Afghanistan, believed to �harbour insurgents� linked to Afghanistan�s multi-billion dollar opium trade.
�During the operation, insurgent forces engaged the joint force and more than a dozen enemy fighters were killed in the ensuing fire fight,� a military spokesman said.
�As the joint force was departing the area, one helicopter went down due to unconfirmed reasons. Military casualties are reported and a recovery operation is under way.�
Details of the units and the types of helicopters involved have been withheld until the rescue operations are complete.
Both southern and western Afghanistan have seen a surge of US troops.
A spokesman for the Taleban claimed responsibility. Qari Yousuf Ahmadi said: �There was fighting in the bazaar between foreign troops and the Taleban. During the fighting the Taleban shot down a foreign helicopter.�
<<Print>>