Thursday, April 05, 2007
Gunfire forces down U.S. military helicopter
Security
(Reuters) - Heavy gunfire forced a U.S. military helicopter down in an insurgent stronghold south of Baghdad on Thursday, Iraqi witnesses said. The U.S. military said it had no information on the reports. Witnesses said the aircraft appeared to be an Apache attack helicopter. They said it came under attack near Latifiya, 40 km (25 miles) south of Baghdad.
"I saw a helicopter in the sky, then I heard heavy gunfire," said one witness. "I saw the helicopter move right and left before landing hard. It did not explode." An Iraqi security official also said a helicopter had come down in the area. U.S. forces had closed off the site, witnesses said.
Insurgents shot down eight helicopters during a month-long period earlier this year, killing 28 people, mainly American soldiers. Six of those were U.S. military helicopters and two belonged to a private American security firm.
"I saw a helicopter in the sky, then I heard heavy gunfire," said one witness. "I saw the helicopter move right and left before landing hard. It did not explode." An Iraqi security official also said a helicopter had come down in the area. U.S. forces had closed off the site, witnesses said.
Insurgents shot down eight helicopters during a month-long period earlier this year, killing 28 people, mainly American soldiers. Six of those were U.S. military helicopters and two belonged to a private American security firm.
Labels: Apache helicopter, Latifiyah
Monday, March 19, 2007
Islamic State of Iraq claims downing of Apache helicopter
Security, Insurgency
(SITE) Al-Furqan Foundation, the official distributor and producer of multimedia for the Islamic State of Iraq, issued on Saturday, March 17, 2007, a five-minute video within its series, “The Hell of the Romans and the Apostates in the Land of Two Rivers [Mesopotamia/Iraq]”. The video depicts a “unique operation” to destroy an American tank in al-Ramadi, in al-Anbar governorate, by a Mujahid planting material beneath the tank. The individual twice goes under the tank for this purpose. Afterwards the explosives are detonated, and footage of the explosion is shown three times, before the scene settles on a blaze erupting from the tank.
Also, among the group’s communiqués issued today, the Islamic State of Iraq claims responsibility for downing an American Apache helicopter in the area of Jibbah, in Haditha yesterday. According to the message, eyewitnesses reported that the helicopter was hit by hostile fire from the ground, forcing it to land outside the area, after which “Crusader” forces surrounded the site.
Also, among the group’s communiqués issued today, the Islamic State of Iraq claims responsibility for downing an American Apache helicopter in the area of Jibbah, in Haditha yesterday. According to the message, eyewitnesses reported that the helicopter was hit by hostile fire from the ground, forcing it to land outside the area, after which “Crusader” forces surrounded the site.
Labels: Al-Furqan Foundation, Apache helicopter, Islamic State of Iraq, Jibbah
