Hizbollah says downs Israeli helicopter in Lebanon

TYRE, Lebanon, Aug 12 (Reuters) Hizbollah guerrillas said today they had shot down an Israeli helicopter in southern Lebanon with a new type of missile.

The Israeli army had no comment. A Hizbollah statement said the helicopter was shot down in the southern village of Yater, 6 km (4 miles) north of the border at 10 p.m. (0030 hrs IST).

The statement said the missile was called a ''Waad''.

Two Israeli airmen were killed on July 24 when their helicopter crashed in Israel near the border with Lebanon.

Hizbollah claimed to have shot that aircraft down but the army said the crash was probably caused by a technical fault.

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