US helicopter 'downed by missile'

A US military helicopter crashed today into a river west of Baghdad, police said, and a witness reported seeing a missile hit the aircraft.

The OH-58 Kiowa helicopter, which carries a two-member crew, crashed about 1.50pm near Haditha, Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt said.

He said there were two casualties but would not say whether they were dead or injured. Kimmitt also said the cause of the crash had not been determined.

Two US helicopters were flying over Haditha when a missile hit one of them, said Emad Rasheed, a 45-year-old Haidtha resident.

Police in Haditha confirmed that an aircraft crashed, but had no word on the cause.

With the latest crash, the US military has lost 13 helicopters since the occupation began in May – most to hostile fire.