NATO helicopter crashes in eastern Afghanistan

NATO helicopter crashes in eastern Afghanistan

2011-07-25 20:01:55 GMT+7 (ICT)

ASADABAD, AFGHANISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- A helicopter belonging to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) on Monday crashed in the eastern region of Afghanistan, officials said.

According to ISAF, all of the passengers and crew members involved in the accident survived, but while search and rescue teams approached the crash site, a group of gunmen opened fire against them.

ISAF security forces retaliated by returning fire with small arms, while working to secure the site of the crash. ISAF reported no major incidents, as passengers and crew members were transported safely to a nearby base.

Coalition forces said they were currently investigating the accident in order to determine the reason of the crash.

However, Noorullah, acting chief of the Kunar district of Manogi, Afghanistan, told Pajhwok Afghan News that militants had fired a rocket against an ISAF Chinook helicopter at around 2:00 a.m. local time in Manogi. In addition, he said another helicopter had opened fire and killed two Taliban leaders identified as Mohammad Habibi and Nabi.

The Taliban claimed responsibility of the incident through their spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid.

In a separate incident, at least one civilian was killed and several ISAF members were injured when a coalition patrol struck an improvised explosive device in Sayyidabad, which is located in Afghanistan's province of Wardak. The incident occurred while the patrol was conducting a road clearance operation in the area.

Following the explosion, insurgents opened fire against the team of ISAF security forces, which found three more civilian bodies when searching the area after the exchange of fire. Another civilian was found injured inside a nearby vehicle.

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