Sunday, November 02, 2003

Deadliest Strike on U.S. Troops in Iraq Comes After 'Tough Week':
"Insurgents shot down a U.S. Chinook helicopter in central Iraq on Sunday as it carried troops headed for R&R, killing 15 soldiers and wounding 21 in the deadliest single strike against American troops since the start of war."

Other attacks, in Fallujah and Baghdad, killed another U.S soldier and two American civilians. The only day that saw more U.S. casualties came March 23, during the first week of the invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein.

Sunday's helicopter attack, by a shoulder-fired missile, was a significant new blow in an Iraq insurgency that escalated in recent days -- and the U.S. occupation chief acknowledged anti-U.S. forces were getting more sophisticated in their attacks.…

The helicopter was part of a formation of two Chinooks carrying a total of more than 50 passengers to the U.S. base at the former Saddam International Airport, renamed Baghdad International Airport, which the military calls BIA.

``Our initial report is that they were being transported to BIA for R&R flights,'' a U.S. command spokeswoman in Baghdad said. She said at least some were coming from Camp Ridgway, believed to be an 82nd Airborne Division base in western Iraq.

Command spokesman Darley said he didn't know whether the troops were bound for leaves at home or abroad outside Iraq.


http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Iraq.html?pagewanted=all&position=

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