Eight US troops die in Afghanistan and fourteen injured

[Guest guest]

8 U.S. troops die in Afghan 'copter crash

POSTED: 9:06 a.m. EST, February 18, 2007

 

Story Highlights

• Eight coalition troops killed and 14 injured in helicopter crash

• Crew reported an engine failure before going down in southeastern

• CH-47 helicopter was carrying 22 people at time of crash

 

 

KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Eight coalition members were killed and 14

others wounded when their helicopter had a " sudden, unexplained loss

of power and control " and crashed in southeastern Afghanistan on

Sunday, military officials said.

 

All eight were U.S. personnel, according to news wire reports.

 

The CH-47 Chinook was transporting 22 people, including crew, at the

time of the crash.

 

Rescuers found the 14 injured passengers after launching a search

operation and transported them to the hospital.

 

U.S. Marine Maj. William Mitchell told CNN that the severity of the

helicopter crash was compounded by the harsh terrain.

 

" This area of eastern Afghanistan does have some severe terrain and,

of course, that does not help in making that controlled landing, "

Mitchell said.

 

" There was a catastrophic event on the ground, resulting a lot of

injuries, and unfortunately those eight members of our team were lost

today. "

 

On Saturday, NATO troops in southern Afghanistan shot and killed a man

they mistakenly thought was a suicide bomber, according to NATO's

International Security Assistance Force.

 

The incident occurred near Kandahar Airfield, in Kandahar province,

and involved ISAF personnel.

 

ISAF said a man had been running " between the vehicles of a stopped

convoy. "

 

ISAF troops " believing he might be a suicide bomber, attempted to stop

him. A gunner on one of the vehicles flashed a light at the individual

after he kept moving toward the convoy, then fired warning shots. When

the individual failed to stop, ISAF forces fired upon him. "

 

They later determined the man -- who died at a medical facility at

Kandahar Airfield -- was not carrying explosives.

 

" ISAF deeply regrets this loss of life " ISAF spokesperson Lt. Col.

Angela Billings said in the statement.

 

" ISAF forces attempted to warn the individual away from the convoy,

but he did not respond. Local nationals are encouraged to keep clear

of all convoys, whether they are moving or stopped, to avoid further

incidents, " the statement said.

 

On Thursday, President Bush warned that U.S. and NATO forces can

expect a heating up of the Taliban offensive as the snow melts in the

mountains of eastern Afghanistan.

 

In comments to the American Enterprise Institute, Bush said " fierce

fighting " will continue in the Afghan-Pakistani frontier region, but

he vowed that international forces are ready.

 

" Taliban and al Qaeda are preparing to launch new attacks, " Bush said.

" Our strategy is not to be on the defensive but to go on the offense.

This spring there's going to be a new offensive in Afghanistan and

it's going to be a NATO offensive, and that's part of our strategy. "

 

Bush described the resurgence of Taliban and their attacks in 2006 as

the " most violent year in Afghanistan since the liberation of the

country. "