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At Least 9 U.S. Troops Killed When Choppers Hit
Monday, March 4, 2002
(1:34 PM ET)
The Associated Press

Image Credit: USA TODAY.

Asked whether the United States would send in additional military reinforcements to aid the assault, Rumsfeld said: "Whatever it takes." He would not provide details.

WASHINGTON -- AP
Nine Americans have died in a U.S.-led assault in Afghanistan, including at least seven killed when two helicopters took enemy fire in the largest offensive of the five-month war against terrorists, Pentagon officials said Monday.

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said enemy forces had sustained "much larger numbers of killed and wounded, and there will be many more." He said the assault would continue during the days ahead.

Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said several hundred al-Qaeda fighters were in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan, well dug-in, well-fortified and they "have lots of weapons."

"We knew that al-Qaeda would have two choices, to run or stay and fight," Myers said. "It seems they have chosen to stay and fight to the last, and we hope to accommodate them."

In one incident, a Chinook helicopter was shot at and crashed. Six died in the crash or an ensuing fire fight on the ground, said a senior defense official of condition of anonymity.

In the second incident, the official said, one American was killed when a helicopter was fired on, made a hard landing and then managed to take off again.
(More: USA TODAY News Source)
2002 © The Associated Press.

Dan