Two US soldiers killed in helicopter crash

Two American soldiers were killed after one American helicopter was downed north of Baghdad area which is known as being a stage for armed operations, in an incident which is the third of its kind during ten days.

Two different sides claimed responsibility for the downing of the helicopter which was in a sortie in the area. Al-Mujahideen Army broadcast a video tape on the Internet showing how one missile was fired toward a helicopter which was converted into a ball of fire and fell seconds after leaving smoke behind.

The US army on the other hand admitted in an official statement the plane crash, manned by two pilots and Salah Eddine groups claimed responsibility for downing the American helicopter.

Two American soldiers were killed on Friday after their helicopter was toppled by gunmen fire in al-Musil. al-Qaida organization in Mesopotamia claimed responsibility for the attack.

Some 12 Americans 8 soldiers and 4 civilians were killed in a helicopter crash on January 7 near Tel-Afer city on the border of Syria.

Worthy mentioning that six Islamic organizations including al-Mujahideen Army and al-Qaida branch in Iraq approved the formation of what is called the Shoura council to unify their efforts against what it called " the crusaders and the non believers."

In other field developments, five members of the Iraqi police were killed and other 18 injured including civilians in a suicide attack in a booby trapped car targeting a police vehicle in al-Miqdadeyah city east of Baqpouba, according to Iraqi police sources.

In Baghdad, one Iraqi police man was killed and other 7 injured including five soldiers in various attacks. In al-Maseib south of Baghdad, three civilians were killed in a bomb explosion targeting a vehicle for the Iraqi forces.