ISAF helicopter shot down, 38 killed

MAIDAN SHAHR (PAN): An International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) helicopter was shot down in the central province of Maidan Wardak, officials said Saturday. President Hamid Karzai said that 31 US Special Forces and seven Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers were killed in the crash.

Karzai expressed condolences to US President Barack Obama and the families of the victims.

The incident took place Friday night in the Syedabad district, the governor’s spokesman, Shahidullah Shahid, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

He told Pajhwok that ISAF soldiers had suffered casualties in the crash but he could not provide exact figures.

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack and said that 38 people were killed.

The chopper crashed near a village in the Tangi area of Syedabad district, the district chief, Dr. Muslim, said.

In a statement to Pajhwok Afghan News Saturday morning, ISAF confirmed “an incident involving a helicopter in eastern Afghanistan“, saying that investigations and recovery operations were underway.

“ISAF reporting indicates there was enemy activity in the area,” the statement added.

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