All nine troops killed in the worst helicopter crash for the coalition in Afghanistan in four years were Americans, the Pentagon has confirmed without providing further information on why the aircraft carrying Navy special forces went down.
NATO said there were no reports of enemy fire in a rugged area in the Daychopan district of Zabul province, where Tuesday's crash took place. But Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi told The Associated Press by telephone that insurgents shot down the helicopter.
The Taliban often exaggerate their claims and sometimes take credit for accidents.
The U.S. Defense Department released the identities of the troops late Wednesday, saying four were with the Navy special forces — three of them Navy SEALS — and the rest were soldiers.
Fort Campbell spokesman Rick Rzepka said that the five soldiers were assigned to the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade.
By: Brant
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