Afghanistan: US special forces helicopter shot down, soldiers killed

Independent

At least one US special forces soldier was reportedly killed and others were wounded in Afghanistan. The medical helicopter that came under to cue them came under fire.

NBC reported on Tuesday that the helicopter flying to pick up wounded members of the US special forces, had gone down after being hit. However, it subsequently emerged that although it was damaged, it was able to take off.

CNN said the soldiers had been involved in a joint counter-terrorism operation in Helmand province with Afghan forces, when they came under attack. An unknown number of people were also injured.

Officials said the US medevac chopper called in to recover casualties came under mortar and small-arms fire and was hit.

A spokesman for the NATO coalition in Afghanistan earlier told NBC News that a US helicopter had landed in Helmand province and was “experiencing mechanical problems.”