Wednesday, August 22, 2007
14 U.S. soldiers killed in helicopter crash
Security
(AP) - A helicopter crashed in northern Iraq on Wednesday, killing all 14 U.S. soldiers aboard, the military said. The UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was carrying four crew members and 10 passengers when it went down during a nighttime operation, according to a statement. The military said initial indications showed the aircraft experienced a mechanical problem and there were no indications of hostile fire, but the cause was still under investigation. The 14 soldiers killed were assigned to Task Force Lightning, the military said.
Labels: helicopter, northern Iraq, Task Force Lightning, U.S. soldiers, UH-60 Black Hawk
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Female bomber targets police station killing 15
Security
(Al Jazeera) - A woman suicide bomber wearing an explosive belt has blown herself up at a police station in a mainly Sunni town in the province of Diyala, killing 15 people, AFP reports quoting an Iraqi interior ministry spokesman. Reuters reported quoting Iraqi police that a suicide bomber killed 14 people outside a police recruitment centre on Tuesday. They said 20 others had been wounded in the blast in the town of Muqdadiya, situated 90km northeast of the Iraqi capital.
Police said three among the wounded were civilians and added that the death toll may rise. In central Baghdad, clashes erupted between US forces and fighters and an American helicopter came under ground fire but was not brought down, US and Iraqi officials said on Tuesday. The fighting raged in Fadhil and Sheikh Omar, two Sunni-majority neighbourhoods, two Iraqi police officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media. Four civilians were injured in the clashes, police and a hospital official said, on the same condition of anonymity.
A US helicopter hovering over the battle "received some ground fire, but was not brought down", according to a senior US military official. He spoke on condition of anonymity because US officials were still investigating the incident. Another U.S. military spokesman, Major Steven Lamb, said a rocket pod on a helicopter had caught fire and was jettisoned. He had no further details.
(Al Jazeera) - A woman suicide bomber wearing an explosive belt has blown herself up at a police station in a mainly Sunni town in the province of Diyala, killing 15 people, AFP reports quoting an Iraqi interior ministry spokesman. Reuters reported quoting Iraqi police that a suicide bomber killed 14 people outside a police recruitment centre on Tuesday. They said 20 others had been wounded in the blast in the town of Muqdadiya, situated 90km northeast of the Iraqi capital.
Police said three among the wounded were civilians and added that the death toll may rise. In central Baghdad, clashes erupted between US forces and fighters and an American helicopter came under ground fire but was not brought down, US and Iraqi officials said on Tuesday. The fighting raged in Fadhil and Sheikh Omar, two Sunni-majority neighbourhoods, two Iraqi police officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media. Four civilians were injured in the clashes, police and a hospital official said, on the same condition of anonymity.
A US helicopter hovering over the battle "received some ground fire, but was not brought down", according to a senior US military official. He spoke on condition of anonymity because US officials were still investigating the incident. Another U.S. military spokesman, Major Steven Lamb, said a rocket pod on a helicopter had caught fire and was jettisoned. He had no further details.
Labels: Baghdad, Fadhil, female suicide bomber, helicopter, Muqdadiya, police station, Sheikh Omar
Friday, April 06, 2007
20 Iraqi, British and U.S. soldiers killed in 24 hours
Security
(RFE/RL) - Nearly 20 Iraqi, British, and U.S. soldiers were killed in attacks across Iraq in the past 24 hours. Four British soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed in a roadside bombing near the southern city of Al-Basrah. Ten Iraqi soldiers were killed in an attack near the northern city of Mosul. In Baghdad, four U.S. soldiers were killed by two roadside bombs. In addition, the U.S. military said four people were injured when an army helicopter with nine people aboard went down south of Baghdad.
Also in Baghdad, a senior Iraqi journalist was killed today when a suicide car bomb exploded outside the Baghdad headquarters of a television channel run by a leading Sunni political party. In a statement, the Iraqi Islamic Party said deputy bureau chief Thaer Ahmed Jabr died in the attack. At least 10 other employees were wounded. More than 180 media workers, most of them Iraqi, have been killed in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.
Also in Baghdad, a senior Iraqi journalist was killed today when a suicide car bomb exploded outside the Baghdad headquarters of a television channel run by a leading Sunni political party. In a statement, the Iraqi Islamic Party said deputy bureau chief Thaer Ahmed Jabr died in the attack. At least 10 other employees were wounded. More than 180 media workers, most of them Iraqi, have been killed in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.
Labels: Baghdad, Basrah, helicopter, Iraqi Islamic Party, Mosul, roadside bombs, security forces, Thaer Ahmed Jabr
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
U.S. helicopter was shot down
Security
(AP) A Sea Knight helicopter that crashed last week northwest of Baghdad was shot down, the U.S. military said Wednesday, reversing earlier statements that it appeared to have been due to mechanical failure. The Marine CH-46 troop transport went down northwest of Baghdad on Feb. 7, killing all seven people on board, and an al-Qaida-linked Sunni group claimed responsibility and aired a video.
At least seven U.S. helicopters have crashed or been forced down under hostile fire since Jan. 20. In the wake of the recent crashes, U.S. officials have said they were reviewing flight operations and tactics but maintain there is no evidence of sophisticated new weapons used in any of the latest attacks. Wednesday's statement raised to five that were known to have been shot down. Two private security company helicopters also have crashed but the cause was unclear.
The military statement declined to comment on insurgents weapons' capabilities or tactics to counter them, citing security concerns. The Islamic State in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iraqi insurgent groups that includes al-Qaida in Iraq, claimed responsibility for downing the helicopter and issued an Internet video on Feb. 9 it said was proof. The group also claimed the recent downings of two other U.S. helicopters.
At least seven U.S. helicopters have crashed or been forced down under hostile fire since Jan. 20. In the wake of the recent crashes, U.S. officials have said they were reviewing flight operations and tactics but maintain there is no evidence of sophisticated new weapons used in any of the latest attacks. Wednesday's statement raised to five that were known to have been shot down. Two private security company helicopters also have crashed but the cause was unclear.
The military statement declined to comment on insurgents weapons' capabilities or tactics to counter them, citing security concerns. The Islamic State in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iraqi insurgent groups that includes al-Qaida in Iraq, claimed responsibility for downing the helicopter and issued an Internet video on Feb. 9 it said was proof. The group also claimed the recent downings of two other U.S. helicopters.
COMMENT: More helicopters are being successfully shot down by insurgents than in previous years indicating that insurgent groups have obtained more advanced anti-aircraft systems and / or become more adept at handling them. This is likely to increase, making air movement more dangerous than before. COMMENT ENDS.
Labels: helicopter, Islamic State in Iraq, U.S. military
