Nine service members with the international coalition in Afghanistan have died after their helicopter crashed in the volatile south where troops are ramping up pressure on Taliban insurgents. One other coalition service member, an Afghan National Army soldier and a US civilian were injured in the crash and were transported to a military medical centre for treatment, NATO said. The alliance did not disclose the location of the crash, which is under investigation.
Ahmad Wali Karzai, the brother of the Afghan president Hamid Karzai, said the chopper went down in Zabul province, but officials there said they have no confirmed reports of any crash. Though helicopters more regularly crash because of mechanical issues in Afghanistan, some have been brought down by insurgent fire. However, NATO said in a statement, "There are no reports of enemy fire in the area".
*AP
