Copter shot down in Afghanistan; 4 Americans dead

Canadian soldiers with 1st RCR Battle Group, The Royal Canadian Regiment, rush to reinforce troops after one of their comrades got injured by an IED during a patrol outside Salavat, in the Panjwayi district, southwest of Kandahar, Afghanistan, Monday, June 7, 2010. IEDs have been the single biggest cause of death among Canadian troops in Afghanistan. Seven out of nine Canadian deaths this year were the result of IED blasts.


A medic with the U.S. Army comforts an injured Canadian soldier with the 1st RCR Battle Group, The Royal Canadian Regiment, after landing for his medical evacuation outside Salavat, in the Panjwayi district, southwest of Kandahar, Afghanistan, Monday, June 7, 2010. The Canadian soldier was injured from an IED during a patrol earlier. IEDs have been the single biggest cause of death among Canadian troops in Afghanistan. Seven out of nine Canadian deaths this year were the result of IED blasts.


U.S. marines provide security during a government function to lay the foundations for a government administrative department building at Musa Qala in Helmand, Afghanistan, Tuesday, June 8, 2010.

The U.S. military say the four NATO troops killed when a helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan were Americans.

NATO said earlier that hostile fire brought down the helicopter Wednesday in southern Helmand province, where the Taliban have a strong presence. The militant group claimed responsibility for the downing.

U.S. military spokesman in Kabul, Lt. Col. Joseph T. Breasseale, later confirmed the four NATO troops killed were Americans.



Both U.S. and British troops are operating in Helmand, part of a band of provinces across southern Afghanistan that are the Taliban's heartland.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A NATO helicopter was shot down in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday, killing four troops, the alliance said.

The helicopter was brought down by hostile fire in volatile Helmand province, NATO said in a statement. It gave no other details.

Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi claimed responsibility on behalf of the insurgents, saying militants shot down the helicopter with two rockets.

Helmand provincial government spokesman Daoud Ahmadi said the attack occurred about midday in Sangin province.

Both U.S. and British troops are operating in Helmand, part of a band of provinces across southern Afghanistan that are the Taliban's heartland.

United States troops have been building in the south as part of President Barack Obama's surge strategy to try to bring an end to the nearly nine-year-old insurgency.

Obama last December ordered some 30,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan, and most of them are due to be deployed in the south.

U.S. commanders are planning a major operation in Kandahar that they hope will turn the tide of the war in time for American troops to begin withdrawing on Obama's stated timetable starting in July 2011. Helmand province abuts Kandahar.

Insurgents have stepped up attacks ahead of the Kandahar operation. The spike in violence has killed 28 NATO troops this month, including Wednesday's casualties.