View Full Version : Chinook down in Afghanistan
SASless
28th Jun 2005, 18:15
Initial report of a US Army Chinook being down near Asadabad, Afghanistan.....no other news yet.
wildwolf
28th Jun 2005, 19:42
Latest reports from BBC say it was on a troop carrying mission and went down over Konar. The Taleban claim it was their supporters that shot it down but nothing has been confirmed officially.
Thoughts go out to all those affected.
ww
TheStormyPetrel
28th Jun 2005, 22:29
US Chinook crashes in Afghanistan
A United States Chinook helicopter with between 15 and 20 American troops aboard has crashed during an anti-insurgent operation in eastern Afghanistan, the US military said.
It added that the status of those aboard was not immediately known.
The crash happened west of the city of Asadabad, in the province of Kunar which borders Pakistan, the military said in a statement.
An Afghan official told Reuters a rocket was fired at the helicopter.
The crash comes just after Afghan President Hamid Karzai's spokesman dismissed the threat posed by the ousted Taliban regime.
"A US CH-47 helicopter crashed west of Asadabad today while it was transporting additional forces into an area in support of US forces currently conducting counter-terrorism operations," the US military said in a statement.
"The cause of the crash and status of survivors is unknown at this time," the statement said.
"US fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters are currently providing close air support to the forces on the ground."
A spokesman for the ousted Taliban regime claimed responsibility for the crash in the eastern province of Kunar, which borders Pakistan and has been a traditional stronghold of Taliban and other Islamic militants.
"We shot down a helicopter in Kunar," Taliban spokesman Mullah Abdul Latif Hakimi told AFP by satellite phone from an undisclosed location.
Hakimi said the operation in the Mornurghai district of Kunar province was sparked when the Taliban seized seven Afghans "working as spies for the Americans with satellite phones and maps" seeking militants in the mountainous area where the Taliban have their hideouts.
"Taliban recognised the seven spies, arrested them, tried and executed them," Hakimi added. "Among the seven, one of them managed to get the message out to the Americans, who came with helicopters."
He added that the Chinook was shot down near a village called Shurak and that all passengers on board were killed. There was no way of independently confirming his account.
Chinooks, which can carry dozens of troops, are a mainstay of the US-led coalition force in rugged Afghanistan.
The US-led coalition launched the operation to oust the Taliban when they refused to hand over Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington.
In recent weeks, the 18,000-strong US coalition force has been stepping up pressure on militants in south and south-eastern Afghanistan to chase them out of their strongholds in the run-up to September parliamentary elections.
US forces flying missions above Afghanistan's difficult, mountainous terrain have now suffered nine helicopter crashes since the end of 2001.
source (http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200506/s1402727.htm)
Very sad.
ginjockey
30th Jun 2005, 04:53
The Australian SBS news reported this same incident last night and added that Taliban forces also claim to have video of the shoot down as well as video of the execution of some survivors at the scene shortly after. Pretty sick stuff.
SASless
30th Jun 2005, 05:29
That unfortunately is typical of the enemy we are fighting. If true....I hope they learn of how unwise that kind of conduct is.
Tigs2
30th Jun 2005, 20:48
Very Very Sad.
RIP all those who lost their lives. Comiserations to all the families and loved ones.
The enemy have no cause for complaint about their eventual treatment when they cleary ignore the rules of conduct after capture of injured servicemen
SASless
30th Jun 2005, 21:28
Tigs,
The Taliban and Terrorists are not bound by the Geneva Convention....they have an absolute defense against charges being levied as a result I would say....not that they would care.
BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4636461.stm) Casualties confirmed.
Pilgrim101
1st Jul 2005, 08:23
Sasless/Tigs
Tell the Taliban Gitmo's full now, no vacancies ! I don't think either side expects any quarter so no Geneva Convention or any other protocols for the luvvies to wring their hands over.
Time for MOAB to prove her efficiency on the Taliban enclaves and f:mad: k the critics