NATO airstrike kills Taliban insurgents responsible for attack on U.S. helicopter

NATO airstrike kills Taliban insurgents responsible for attack on U.S. helicopter

2011-08-11 06:41:53 GMT+7 (ICT)

KABUL (BNO NEWS) -- Coalition forces on Tuesday conducted an airstrike against the Taliban insurgents who were allegedly involved in the recent downing of a U.S. helicopter in Afghanistan, killing 38 U.S. and Afghan service members.

The strike, which was carried out in the Chak district of Wardak province, killed local Taliban leader Mullah Mohibullah and the insurgent who allegedly fired the shot associated with Saturday's downing of the CH-47 helicopter, which resulted in the deaths of 30 U.S. troops, seven Afghan troops and an Afghan interpreter.

A statement released by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) on Wednesday said it has not been determined if enemy fire was the only reason for the helicopter crash but assured that the aircraft took fire from several insurgent locations while approaching the Tangi Valley in Wardak province.

Mullah Mohibullah was allegedly a key facilitator in an insurgent attack cell led by Din Mohammad, a Taliban leader killed in a previous Special Operations mission. As a leader in Mohammad's network in Tangi valley, Mohibullah allegedly had as many as 12 Taliban fighters under his command, including potential suicide bombers, the statement said.

On the night of the crash, the CH-47 helicopter was on a mission intended to pursue insurgents from Mohammad's network who were fleeing an engagement in which six militants had already been killed.

After an exhaustive manhunt, Special Operations forces located Mohibullah and the insurgent shooter after receiving multiple intelligence leads and tips from local citizens, ISAF said, adding that the two men were attempting to flee the country in order to avoid capture.

The security force located and followed the insurgents to a wooded area in Chak district where the force called for the airstrike which resulted in the deaths of Mohibullah, the alleged shooter, and several of their Taliban associates.

On Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama traveled to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to honor the 30 U.S. troops, which includes 22 U.S. Navy SEALs of Team 6 which carried out the mission to find al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. However, none of its members involved in the Bin Laden raid were among the dead, U.S. officials said.

Obama met informally with family members for about 70 minutes, offering his condolences for their loss and his deep gratitude for their sacrifice and service. The victims represent the deadliest day for NATO forces in the history of the decade-long war in Afghanistan.

While the families have been informed, the U.S. military has not yet publicly identified the victims as the remains were flown on Tuesday from Afghanistan in an "unidentified" status until they are positively identified by the Armed Forces Mortuary Affairs Office.

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