Plan seen behind downings of US copters - NY Times

NEW YORK, Feb 18 (Reuters) Documents captured from Iraqi insurgents indicate some of the recent deadly attacks against U.S. helicopters stemmed from a strategic plan to down coalition aircraft, The New York Times reported in its Sunday edition.

The documents, which according to the Times were said to have been drafted by al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, showed the militants were preparing to ''concentrate on the air force.'' The contents of the documents seized near Baghdad were described in a US intelligence report that was reviewed by The New York Times, and reflected the insurgents' military preparations from late last year, including plans for attacking aircraft using a variety of weapons, the Times said.

US officials say the attacks on coalition aircraft have been carried out by mounting coordinated assaults with machine guns, rockets and surface-to-air missiles.

''Attacks on coalition aircraft probably will increase if helicopter missions expand during the latest phase of the Baghdad Security Plan, or if insurgents seek to emulate their recent successes,'' the newspaper quoted the intelligence report as saying. Seven helicopters have been shot down since January 20, according to the report, more than all the coalition aircraft shot down last year.

The intelligence report supported concerns that militants had adapted their tactics to step up attacks against helicopters, the Times said.

According to the intelligence report, insurgents plan their attacks by studying flight patterns near US bases and along supply routes. Attackers recently used weapons, including shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles, heavy machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and unguided rockets, that cannot be diverted by the flares helicopters disperse to fool heat-seeking systems, the newspaper said.

The intelligence report said al Qaeda in Mesopotamia led the insurgent group known as the Islamic State of Iraq, and had claimed responsibility for shooting down three helicopters near Taji, Karma and in Diyala Province.

The documents did not make clear whether the new tactics represented an effort by militants in those areas or a nationwide strategy by the group, the Times said.

Reuters PKS VP0530