Two soldiers killed in Iraq helicopter crash: US

Baghdad, Nov 21: A coalition forces helicopter crashed in Iraq today, killing two soldiers and injuring 12, the US military said.

Major Brad Leighton, a US military spokesman, said initial reports indicated the crash near the town of Salman Pak, 45 km southeast of Baghdad, was not the result of enemy fire.

He declined to say if the casualties were American or give details on the type of aircraft. The number of soldiers on board suggest it was a Black Hawk helicopter, the workhorse of the US military, which is used to transport troops around Iraq.

Two US military helicopters crashed in Iraq in August, killing a total of 19 US service personnel.

Nearly 70 helicopters have crashed in Iraq since the 2003 invasion to topple Saddam Hussein, about half of them because of hostile fire.

US helicopters are a constant in the skies above Iraq, ferrying troops around to avoid the more dangerous roads where insurgents often plant roadside bombs.

Reuters
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