ISAF helicopter crashes in Kunar

ASADABAD (PAN) helicopter crashed in the eastern province of Kunar on Monday, officials and the alliance said.

As coalition rescue forces approached the crash site, they came under enemy fire, ISAF said in a statement.

“Coalition forces returned fire, with small arms, while working to secure the site of the crash. All passengers and crew members have been secured and safely transported to a nearby base,” the statement said.

According to the statement, ISAF has launched investigation into the incident.

Noorullah, the acting chief of the Kunar district of Manogi, told Pajhwok Afghan News that a rocket fired by militants hit an ISAF Chinook helicopter at around 2:00 am in Manogi.

He said two Taliban leaders, Mohammad Habibi and Nabi, were shot dead by another helicopter in a retaliatory attack.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for shooting the helicopter, saying that several US soldiers were killed in the incident.

He confirmed the death of the two Taliban fighters who shot the chopper.

Crashes and emergency landings of ISAF and Afghan helicopters have increased recently. Ten domestic or foreign military helicopters have crashed or made emergency landings over the past three months.

myn/kg

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