Video released of US helicopter being hit in Iraq

Qatar-based Al-Jazeera television aired video footage last night, which the station said came from an insurgent website showing a US helicopter being hit in central Iraq.

The grainy 15-second video, filmed from the ground, depicted a helicopter plunging, with a trail of black smoke emanating from it.

The station speaker said the video was of a US Army Apache helicopter that was hit near Taji, in central Iraq.

Earlier today, an insurgent group affiliated with al-Qaida in Iraq claimed in a three-minute video message, posted on the internet, known to be used by the militants, that its members had shot down an Apache near Taji.

The web page carried the name of the so-called Islamic State in Iraq, an insurgent group formed late last year by the Mujahedeen Shura Council, an umbrella organisation of insurgents in Iraq. The page carried links to download the alleged video of the US helicopter being hit and falling.

After accessing the links, the video was not visible, and the page showed only a black screen with audible voices on tape.