Casualties confirmed..
New York Times - Two Americans Killed in Helicopter Crash in Iraq
BAGHDAD, Feb. 2 — An American Apache attack helicopter was shot down today just north of Baghdad, and both crewmembers were killed, an American military official said.
It was the fourth American helicopter to crash in the past two weeks, a disturbing trend that American military commanders acknowledged had them concerned. Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that attacks by militants have “been more effective against our helicopters in the last couple of weeks.”
Saying he had looked closely at the issue, General Pace said he did not know if militants were using a new approach or growing more skilled at attacking helicopters, or whether the recent losses were just a reflection of how much the military has come to rely on helicopters in combat here.............
The American military released no details about the latest downing today, except to say that it was investigating the incident. Iraqis who saw the attack said that militants were clearly waiting to ambush passing helicopters.
Abu Ahmed, who lives near the crash site, said that gunmen were lying in wait near a manufacturing plant in al-Sheik Amir village, near the town of Taji, a central hub for helicopter traffic around Baghdad. Americans who are currently training Iraqi pilots there said privately that they were worried about enemies becoming more sophisticated in downing helicopters. Just after sunrise, Mr. Ahmed said, two American Apache helicopters flew low right over where the militants were waiting. They hit both and downed one, he said.
A militant group quickly claimed credit, hours before the American authorities confirmed the incident. The militants promised to post a video of the attack on the Internet. “On the morning of this blessed day, Friday, Feb 2., 2007, an air defense battalion of the Islamic State of Iraq was able to gun down an Apache,” the militant’s statement said. “The Apache was completely burned. We will show the filming of this soon.”
Just two weeks ago, an American Black Hawk helicopter was shot down north of Baghdad, and all twelve soldiers on board were killed. That attack also seemed to involve elaborate planning, according to an American officer familiar with the attack. The militants, equipped with a shoulder-fired missile, were waiting in the back of a truck, under a blue tarp, and only revealed themselves just as the helicopter passed overhead.
In both that attack and the attack Friday, American forces responded swiftly.
The crash site outside Taji was quickly secured by American troops and the two bodies were recovered, according to a military official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because an official report had not yet been released.....