U.S. military says copter down in Iraq

2 minutes ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A U.S. military helicopter went down in
Iraq Friday, the third in the past two weeks, an officer confirmed. Maj. David Small, a spokesman at U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Fla., said he had no details on possible casualties, what mission the helicopter was supporting, nor how many were in the crew.

All three helicopters lost in the last two weeks were believed to have been shot down, although the military says it has not confirmed that. Fourteen crew and service members were killed.

U.S. forces said meanwhile they killed 18 insurgents after coming under attack in a volatile city west of the capital.

The U.S. military relies heavily on air transportation in Iraq to avoid roadside bombs and insurgent attacks and the recent spate of losses underscores the dangers facing American troops as they prepare to step up security operations in the capital and surrounding areas.

Witnesses and local police said two helicopters were flying together Friday morning when gunmen opened fire, downing one of the aircraft near Taji, an air base 12 miles north of Baghdad.

"I can confirm that we are looking into reports that a helicopter went down north of Baghdad," U.S. military spokeswoman Lt. Col. Josslyn Aberle said.

Some witnesses described two helicopters going down, but police said only that the wreckage from one aircraft had been found near a fuel storage complex in the rural area of Mashhada, near Taji.

American forces sealed off the area and U.S. planes were flying overhead, witnesses said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070202/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq;_ylt=ArAmwKCKuUa37GEJHZRqiBfMWM0F;_ylu=X3oDMTA3b2NibDltBHNlYwM3MTY-