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Middle East
Video shows Iraq helicopter attack
Al-Qaeda-linked fighters claim they shot down a US helicopter on Wednesday.
Last Modified: 10 Feb 2007 07:38 GMT
Wednesday's crash was the sixth helicopter loss for the US in Iraq since January 20 [GALLO/GETTY]
A fighters' group linked to al-Qaeda has posted a video on the internet showing what it said was the downing of a US military helicopter in Iraq earlier this week.
 
Seven Americans were killed in the crash on Wednesday, northwest of Baghdad.
 
The two-minute video shows a helicopter that appears to be a Sea Knight flying.
At least one object trailing smoke is seen in the sky nearby, and then the craft bursts into orange and red flames, with a spray of debris emerging from it.
 
It is not clear whether the object is a rocket, and it cannot be clearly seen connecting with the craft.
The video was issued by the Islamic State in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iraqi fighter groups.
 
US denial
 
James Conway, US marines commandant-general, said his forces did not believe that the CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter, the Marine-version of the Chinook, was shot down.
 
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US military officials said early indications were that the craft's loss was due to mechanical failure.
 
The Islamic State in Iraq issued a written claim of responsibility on Wednesday for the craft's downing and had promised a video would follow.
 
The video, entitled "the Hell of Christians and Apostates in Iraq", was posted on a web forum where fighter groups often post messages.
 
Its authenticity could not be independently confirmed.
 
Attacks increasing
 
The crash was the sixth by a US helicopter since January 20, at least four of them downed by ground fire.
 
An Iraqi air force officer on Wednesday also said the CH-46 had been shot down. Five marines and two navy medics were killed in the crash.
 
Though he said the CH-46 was not believed to have been shot down, Conway said on Wednesday that there was a new and troubling "intensity of effort" by fighters to attack helicopters.
Source:
Agencies
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