U.S. Special Forces Killed in Afghanistan Helicopter Crash

By Eltaf Najafizada - Aug 6, 2011

A NATO helicopter crash in an eastern province of Afghanistan last night killed 31 U.S. special forces and seven Afghan soldiers.

The aircraft, belonging to NATO’s International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, crashed in the Maidan Wardak province, according to a statement from the office of Afghan President Hamid Karzai today. The helicopter was completely destroyed, shot down by the Taliban, Shahidullah Shahid, a spokesman for the Maidan Wardak province said in a phone interview.

A Taliban rocket downed the helicopter after a two-hour operation by U.S. forces in the area, Zabihullah Mujahed, a spokesman for the Taliban, said in a phone interview from an undisclosed location. Eight Taliban also died in the clash, Mujahed said.

Nato, in a separate statement, said an ISAF helicopter had crashed and that recovery operations are under way. No further details on the casualties were provided.

"ISAF is still in the process of assessing the circumstances to determine the facts of the incident, reporting indicates there was enemy activity in the area," Nato said in the statement.

To contact the reporter on this story: Andrew Noel in London at anoel@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Benedikt Kammel at bkammel@bloomberg.net

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