Insurgent Video Shows Chopper Downed in Iraq

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February 09, 2007 3:45 PM

An al Qaeda-affiliated group posted a new video on the Internet today they claim shows a U.S. chopper being shot down in Iraq this week.

"The Islamic State of Iraq" had claimed responsibility for the downing of a U.S. Army helicopter in Al Anbar province Wednesday, which killed seven military personnel.

Joint Staff Director of Operations Chief  Lt. Gen. Doug Lute, however, said today that this incident was a result of mechanical failure and not enemy fire. He said there were eyewitness reports as well as other indicators that this incident was not the result of enemy fire and added that the enemy is very astute at taking credit for things that didn't result from enemy fire. "I'd be very cautious about drawing conclusions from things that are posted on the Internet."

Maj. Gen. William Caldwell told CNN last night that the helicopter crash was "probably malfunction-related." He explained that there was a cobra gunship that was with the helicopter and "the reports we're getting right now is that there had been a helicopter malfunction just prior to the helicopter crash."

Click here to see the video

The video shows the camera focusing on a helicopter right before it is hit by what looks like a missile. The chopper is then seen in flames until it crashes on the ground.

The video was produced by "al Furqan," which is behind all releases by "the Islamic State of Iraq," and is part of a series of videos that the group calls "the hell of the Romans and the apostates in the land of the two rivers." Videos of attacks on hummer vehicles and another helicopter were previously released as part of the same "series."

The video is accompanied by a jihadi song and what appears to be an old speech by Osama bin Laden.