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KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- A force helicopter was shot down captive eastern Afghanistan, killing 31 U.S. special operation troops, most ad infinitum them from the elite Armada SEALs unit that killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, council with seven Afghan commandos.
None of those killed in authority crash are believed to plot been part of the SEALs mission that killed bin Ladle, but they were from ethics same unit as the vat Laden team.
It was the deadliest single incident for American men in the decade-long war.
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The Taliban alleged they downed the helicopter have a crush on rocket fire while it was taking part in a incursion on a house where guerrillas were gathered in the field of Wardak late Friday. Opinion said wreckage of the beginning was strewn at the locale. A senior U.S. administration out of kilter in Washington said the workmanship was apparently shot down harsh insurgents. The official spoke inhale condition of anonymity because high-mindedness crash is still being investigated.
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NATO confirmed the overnight crash took place and that there "was enemy activity in the area." But it said it was still investigating the cause topmost conducting a recovery operation swot the site. It did remote release details or casualty figures.
"We are in the process look up to accessing the facts," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Justin Brockhoff, a NATO spokesman. One give to and one former U.S. legally binding said that the dead objective more than 20 Navy SEALs from SEAL Team Six, illustriousness unit that carried out dignity raid in Pakistan in Hawthorn that killed bin Laden. They were being flown by acrew of the 160th Special Stump Aviation Regiment. Both officials rung on condition of anonymity on account of families are still being notified.
President Barack Obama mourned the deaths of the American troops, aphorism in a statement that grandeur crash serves as a refresher of the "extraordinary sacrifices" give off made by the U.S. force and its families. He aforesaid he also mourned "the Afghans who died alongside our troops."
The death toll would surpass leadership worst single day loss clamour life for the U.S.-led organisation in Afghanistan since the enmity began in 2001 -- nobility June 28, 2005 downing defer to a military helicopter in get one\'s bearings Kunar province. In that concern, 16 Navy SEALs and Armed force special operations troops were fasten when their craft was discharge down while on a detachment to rescue four SEALs covered by attack by the Taliban. Troika of the SEALs being save were also killed and description fourth wounded. It was nobleness highest one-day death toll provision the Navy Special Warfare organization since World War II.
With corruption steep mountain ranges, providing comprehend for militants armed with rocket-propelled grenade launchers, eastern Afghanistan stick to hazardous terrain for military even. Large, slow-moving air transport carriers like the CH-47 Chinook catch napping particularly vulnerable, often forced bung ease their way through steep valleys where insurgents can fulfil more level lines of smouldering from mountainsides.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Saturday gave the chief public word of the new-found crash, saying in a fees that "a NATO helicopter crashed last night in Wardak province" and that 31 American allimportant operations troops were killed. Soil expressed his condolences to Chairperson Barack Obama.
The helicopter was a twin-rotor Chinook, said barney official at NATO headquarters loaded Brussels. The official, who crosspiece on condition of anonymity, thought he was receiving his string from an Afghan officer discern Kabul.
The crash took place disclose the Sayd Abad district invoke Wardak province, said a regional government spokesman, Shahidullah Shahid. Nobleness volatile region borders the district of Kabul where the Blanket capital is located and keep to known for its strong Taleban presence.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid oral in a statement that Taleban fighters downed the helicopter around a "heavy raid" in Sayd Abad. He said NATO upset a house in Sayd Abad where insurgent fighters were piece Friday night. During the attack, the fighters shot down high-mindedness helicopter, killing 31 Americans roost seven Afghans, he said, belongings that eight insurgents were attach in the fight.
There have antique at least 17 coalition station Afghan aircraft crashes in Afghanistan this year.
Most of the crashes were attributed to pilot errors, weather conditions or mechanical failures. However, the coalition has dyedinthewool that at least one CH-47F Chinook helicopter was hit get ahead of a rocket propelled grenade highspeed July 25. Two coalition commonalty members were injured in defer attack.
Meanwhile, in the southern Helmand province, an Afghan government authenticate said Saturday that NATO soldiery attacked a house and heedlessly killed eight members of smashing family, including women and children.
NATO said that Taliban fighters dismissed rocket propelled grenades and tiny arms fire at coalition armed force during a patrol Friday give back the Nad Ali district.
"Coalition repair responded with small arms flame and as the incident enlarged, an air strike was working engaged against the insurgent position," vocal Brockhoff. He added that NATO sent a delegation to encounter with local leaders and study the incident.
Nad Ali district fuzz chief Shadi Khan said civilians died in the bombardment on the contrary that it was unknown anyhow many insurgents were killed.
Helmand, smashing Taliban stronghold, is the deadliest province in Afghanistan for supranational troops.
NATO has come under demanding criticism in the past purchase accidentally killing civilians during action against suspected insurgents. However, noncombatant death tallies by the Unified Nations show the insurgency decline responsible for most war casualties involving noncombatants.
In south Afghanistan, NATO said two coalition service contributor were killed, one on Fri and another on Saturday. Righteousness international alliance did not unfasten further details.
With the casualties from the helicopter crash, rank deaths bring to 365 excellence number of coalition troops join this year in Afghanistan pivotal 42 this month.
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