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NATO helicopter crashes in eastern Afghanistan

Other News Materials 25 July 2011 11:48 (UTC +04:00)

A helicopter belonging to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) crashed Monday in eastern Afghanistan, the alliance said, dpa reported.

All aboard survived and were rescued, the ISAF said. It said the cause of the crash was unknown, but the Taliban said they shot it down.

During a rescue attempt, coalition forces came under enemy fire near the crash site, the ISAF said without specifying the location or giving other details, such as the nationalities of those involved in the crash.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said Taliban fighters shot down a NATO helicopter in the eastern province of Kunar.

The helicopter was deploying soldiers when it came under direct fire, he said, claiming Taliban fighters killed 22 Afghan and foreign soldiers.

The Taliban are known for exaggerating casualty figures.

"Two of our fighters also died," Mujahid said.

In another statement, the ISAF said it was assessing an incident in southern Afghanistan in which five children were injured by one of its helicopters.

The incident took place in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province Monday while the aircraft was targeting an insurgent, the alliance said.

"As a result of the engagement, five local children were regrettably injured," it said.

The injured were evacuated to a military medical facility and were being treated, the alliance said.

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