‘Hornet’s nest’ of anti-aircraft fire

IRAQI forces, with a hail of small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades, downed two Apache helicopters yesterday and forced 30 other helicopters in their brigade back to their base.

One two-member crew was later shown on Iraqi television, while the other crew was rescued. All 32 helicopters sustained some damage, occasionally slight, US army officials told the New York Times.

The attack on the helicopters surprised US army leaders and may cause them to adjust their military strategy which relied on the Apaches to destroy Iraq’s armoured divisions that ring Baghdad, said the Times.