The international security forces in Afghanistan (ISAF) confirmed Monday that the downing of a Chinook CH 47 helicopter which claimed 38 lives over the weekend was the result of enemy fire, dpa reported.
ISAF said initial information was that rebels in Wardak Province south-east of Kabul downed the twin-engine chopper with a rocket-propelled grenade.
Previously, the Taliban had claimed credit for shooting down the Chinook on Saturday, in what was the single most serious war incident of its kind in the Afghan conflict.
Besides a crew of five, the Chinook was carrying 25 US Army special forces, 7 Afghan soldiers and an Afghan interpreter.
ISAF said the helicopter was on a flight to provide support to ground forces who were engaged in battle with the Taliban during an operation seeking a Taliban leader.
It said that after the crash, the ground soldiers broke off the battle to try to rescue any survivors and seal off the crash area.
Meanwhile a further ISAF helicopter made a crash-landing on Monday in the south-eastern province of Paktia. An investigation of that incident was under way, with ISAF giving no details of possible casualties. It said there was no enemy activity known in the region.
The crash appeared to be the deadliest in the 10-year Afghan war, exceeding the loss of 16 US troops in June 2005, when a Chinook was shot down by Taliban fire. In that incident in Konar province, near the Korengal Valley, a group of Army Rangers were on a mission to aid a team of Navy SEALs who had come under fire.
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