Militant group 'has proof' it shot down US helicopter

A militant group in Iraq that claimed it shot down a US Apache helicopter last weekend provided video footage showing that it said were parts of the wreckage, Al-Jazeera television reported today.

The pilots were killed when the attack helicopter crashed on Saturday during combat operations near Youssifiyah, about 12 miles southwest of Baghdad, the US military said.

A US statement said the helicopter was probably shot down.

The insurgent al-Rashideen Army claimed it down the helicopter in a statement posted on an Islamic website.

Today, Al-Jazeera aired the footage with the group’s logo showing parts of what it said were the helicopter. Other US helicopters were seen flying overhead.

Al-Jazeera said it could not authenticate the tape.

It was the first loss of a US helicopter since three of them crashed in a 10-day period in January, killing a total of 18 American military personnel.

At least two of those helicopters were shot down.