US soldiers killed in copter crash

Five US soldiers were killed and seven injured when their helicopter crashed near the American military headquarters north of the Afghan capital.

The soldiers were involved in a US military operation, dubbed Mountain Resolve, in the east of the country when yesterday’s crash happened, the military said.

“A US military helicopter crashed near Bagram, Afghanistan,” said a statement from US Central Command, in Tampa, Florida. “Early reports indicate seven service members were injured and at least five service members were killed.”

It was not clear what caused the crash, and the military said it was investigating.

Bagram Air Base, just north of the capital, Kabul, is home to most of the 11,600 coalition forces in Afghanistan. An additional 5,000 international peacekeepers patrol Kabul.

Mountain Resolve has been going on since November 7 in eastern Nuristan and Kunar provinces, but so far no major skirmishes with suspected Taliban and al-Qaida fighters have taken place.

Meanwhile, a coalition vehicle struck a landmine while patrolling an area of Afghanistan near the Pakistani border yesterday, seriously wounding two American soldiers, including one who lost a leg.

Several reporters were travelling with the 10th Mountain Division forces in eastern Afghanistan, but none was seriously hurt, the US military said.

The explosion occurred at about 1pm in Shkin, Paktika province, about 135 miles south of Kabul. A coalition base is located there.

Eastern and southern Afghanistan have become a hotbed of attacks by pro-Taliban and al-Qaida militants targeting coalition forces, United Nations workers and relief agencies.

On Friday, the violence hit Kabul when a rocket landed about 30 yards from the Intercontinental Hotel, shattering glass but causing no injuries. The hotel, a favourite among foreign visitors, is also near the site of an upcoming loya jirga, or grand council, set to ratify a new constitution in December.