US helicopters 'downed by ground fire'

All four US helicopters which have crashed in Iraq in recent weeks appear to have been brought down by “some kind” of ground fire, the chief US military spokesman said today.

It was the first time the US command has publicly acknowledged that the three Army and one private helicopters were probably shot down.

Maj Gen. William Caldwell said the investigations into the crashes since January 20 are incomplete but “it does appear they were all the result of some kind of anti-Iraqi ground fire that did bring those helicopters down.”

“We don’t see this as a focus just on the multinational force,” Caldwell said.

“There’s been an ongoing effort since we’ve been here to target our helicopters. Based on what we have seen, we’re already making adjustments in our tactics and techniques and procedures as to how we employ our helicopters.”