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| US helicopter 'shot down' by Taliban in Afghanistan | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A US helicopter crash in eastern Afghanistan has killed 31 US special forces and seven Afghan soldiers, President Hamid Karzai's office says. | A US helicopter crash in eastern Afghanistan has killed 31 US special forces and seven Afghan soldiers, President Hamid Karzai's office says. |
| The helicopter was taking the personnel back to their base after an operation. | The helicopter was taking the personnel back to their base after an operation. |
| Neither the US nor Nato have confirmed the cause, but witnesses, officials and the Taliban say it was shot down. | |
| The incident is believed to be the biggest single loss of life for US forces in Afghanistan since operations began in 2001. | The incident is believed to be the biggest single loss of life for US forces in Afghanistan since operations began in 2001. |
| The helicopter went down overnight in Wardak province, the statement from President Karzai's office said. | The helicopter went down overnight in Wardak province, the statement from President Karzai's office said. |
| It was returning from an operation against the Taliban in which eight insurgents are believed to have been killed. | It was returning from an operation against the Taliban in which eight insurgents are believed to have been killed. |
| A senior official of President Barack Obama's administration said the helicopter was apparently shot down, Associated Press news agency said. | A senior official of President Barack Obama's administration said the helicopter was apparently shot down, Associated Press news agency said. |
| An official with the Nato-led coalition in Afghanistan told the New York Times the helicopter was shot down with a rocket-propelled grenade. | |
| 'Enemy activity' | 'Enemy activity' |
| "The president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan expresses his sympathy and deep condolences to US President Barack Obama and the family of the victims," the statement from Hamid Karzai said. | |
| The Nato-led International Security Assistance Force has confirmed the helicopter crash but has not released details of casualties or the cause. | The Nato-led International Security Assistance Force has confirmed the helicopter crash but has not released details of casualties or the cause. |
| Nato said it was mounting an operation to recover the helicopter and find out why it crashed. It said there had been "enemy activity in the area" where it went down. | |
| A Taliban spokesman said insurgents had brought down the helicopter with a rocket after US and Afghan troops attacked a house in the Sayd Abad district of Wardak where insurgents were meeting late on Friday, Associated Press said. | |
| Sayd Abad, near the province of Kabul, is known to have a strong Taliban presence. | Sayd Abad, near the province of Kabul, is known to have a strong Taliban presence. |
| A Wardak government spokesman quoted by AFP news agency agreed with this, saying the helicopter was hit as it was taking off. | A Wardak government spokesman quoted by AFP news agency agreed with this, saying the helicopter was hit as it was taking off. |
| A local resident told the BBC Pashto service a rocket hit the helicopter. | |
| "What we saw was that when we having our pre-dawn (Ramadan) meal, Americans landed some soldiers for an early raid," said Mohammad Wali Wardag. | |
| "This other helicopter also came for the raid. We were outside our rooms on a veranda and saw this helicopter flying very low, it was hit by a rocket and it was on fire. It started coming down and crashed just away from our home close to the river." | |
| It is believed the helicopter was a Chinook, commonly used by coalition forces in Afghanistan to ferry troops in and out of combat. | It is believed the helicopter was a Chinook, commonly used by coalition forces in Afghanistan to ferry troops in and out of combat. |
| There are currently about 140,000 foreign troops - about 100,000 of them American - in Afghanistan, fighting the Taliban insurgency and training local troops to take over security. | There are currently about 140,000 foreign troops - about 100,000 of them American - in Afghanistan, fighting the Taliban insurgency and training local troops to take over security. |
| All foreign combat forces are due to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014 and some troop withdrawals have already taken place. | All foreign combat forces are due to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014 and some troop withdrawals have already taken place. |
| Nato has begun the process of handing over control of security in some areas to local forces, with Bamiyan becoming the first province to pass to Afghan control in mid-July. | Nato has begun the process of handing over control of security in some areas to local forces, with Bamiyan becoming the first province to pass to Afghan control in mid-July. |
| An increase in US troop numbers last year has had some success combating the Taliban in the south of Afghanistan, but attacks in the north, which was previously relatively quiet, have picked up in recent months. |