NATO copter downed; Navy SEALs among the 30 U.S. dead
WashPost
Updated: Saturday, August 6, 2:11 PM
KABUL — A NATO helicopter was shot down during an overnight operation against the Taliban in eastern Afghanistan, killing 30 U.S. service members, including about 20 SEALs from the elite SEAL Team 6 counterrorism unit that carried out the mission to kill Osama bin Laden, the coalition said.
The crash, which was the deadliest incident for the coalition in the nearly 10-year-old war, also killed seven Afghan commandos and a civilian interpreter, NATO said, adding that an investigation was underway.
A U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter said the aircraft was most likely brought down by a rocket-propelled grenade. The Taliban asserted responsibility for the crash, which occurred in Wardak province, just west of the capital, Kabul.
American and Afghan officials said that the Chinook aircraft had been operating in an area of heavy insurgent activity. A senior U.S. official said that none of the 20 SEALs who died in the crash had participated in the May raid to kill bin Laden, adding that the downed Chinook was piloted by a regular Army crew.
(More here.)
Updated: Saturday, August 6, 2:11 PM
KABUL — A NATO helicopter was shot down during an overnight operation against the Taliban in eastern Afghanistan, killing 30 U.S. service members, including about 20 SEALs from the elite SEAL Team 6 counterrorism unit that carried out the mission to kill Osama bin Laden, the coalition said.
The crash, which was the deadliest incident for the coalition in the nearly 10-year-old war, also killed seven Afghan commandos and a civilian interpreter, NATO said, adding that an investigation was underway.
A U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter said the aircraft was most likely brought down by a rocket-propelled grenade. The Taliban asserted responsibility for the crash, which occurred in Wardak province, just west of the capital, Kabul.
American and Afghan officials said that the Chinook aircraft had been operating in an area of heavy insurgent activity. A senior U.S. official said that none of the 20 SEALs who died in the crash had participated in the May raid to kill bin Laden, adding that the downed Chinook was piloted by a regular Army crew.
(More here.)
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