NATO says seven of its soldiers were killed when their helicopter crashed late Wednesday in southern Afghanistan.
Officials say the Chinook transport helicopter crashed in Helmand province near Kajaki, the site of fierce battles with Taleban fighters in recent months. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
A Taleban spokesman says militants with the extremist group shot the helicopter down. He says nobody on board survived the crash.
The spokesman offered no proof for his claim.
Military officials say troops responding to the crash site were ambushed by enemy fighters and called for an airstrike to eliminate the threat.
In Washington, a Pentagon spokesman (Brigadier General Perry Wiggins) said a seasonal offensive by U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan has resulted in major losses for the Taleban, including some of its leaders. But he warned the fight is not over.
Separately, the U.S. military reported coalition and Afghan soldiers killed six Taleban fighters during a raid on a suspected militant hideout in eastern Nangahar province.
Officials say the Chinook transport helicopter crashed in Helmand province near Kajaki, the site of fierce battles with Taleban fighters in recent months. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
A Taleban spokesman says militants with the extremist group shot the helicopter down. He says nobody on board survived the crash.
The spokesman offered no proof for his claim.
Military officials say troops responding to the crash site were ambushed by enemy fighters and called for an airstrike to eliminate the threat.
In Washington, a Pentagon spokesman (Brigadier General Perry Wiggins) said a seasonal offensive by U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan has resulted in major losses for the Taleban, including some of its leaders. But he warned the fight is not over.
Separately, the U.S. military reported coalition and Afghan soldiers killed six Taleban fighters during a raid on a suspected militant hideout in eastern Nangahar province.