Two Soldiers Die After Crash in Iraq
1 hour, 9 minutes ago Middle East - AP
By TINI TRAN, Associated Press Writer
BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. forces battled insurgents around the rebel stronghold of Fallujah on Sunday after two American soldiers died when their helicopters crashed south of Baghdad. Many Iraqi Christians skipped Mass following bombings at churches in the capital.
Fierce clashes between U.S. troops and insurgents broke out on a highway east of Fallujah and in the southern part of the city, witnesses said. The road, which leads to Baghdad, has been completely blocked. Residents reported fresh aerial and artillery attacks as explosions boomed across the city.
Plumes of smoke were seen rising from the Askari and Shuhada neighborhoods in eastern and southern Fallujah as families began to flee the area, residents reported. They said a Humvee was seen burning in the eastern edge of the city. Hospital officials said three civilians were injured in the clashes.
Fallujah, 40 miles west of the capital, is considered the toughest stronghold of insurgents. Commanders have been speaking of a possible new offensive to wrest it out and other cities of militants' control, and the Marines said Saturday they had tightened their cordon around the city to keep suspected terrorists from fleeing the area. Still, officials have said that intensified airstrikes and fighting over the past week don't mark the start of a new operation.
South of Baghdad, two Army OH-58 helicopters went down about 8:30 p.m. Saturday, the 1st Cavalry Division said. The deaths of their pilots brought to six the number of American troops killed in two days, following car bombings on Friday that killed four servicemembers.
The division said the cause of the crashes had not been determined.
Yahoo'>http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=1&u=/ap/20041017/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq">Yahoo! News - Two Soldiers Die After Crash in Iraq
A U.S. Army soldier, no name available, from the Scout Platoon, 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, secures a highway for a convoy of troops moving from Fallujah, Iraq , toward Ramadi early Sunday, Oct. 17, 2004. (AP Photo/Jim MacMillan)Yahoo'>http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/041017/481/mac10310171248&e=3&ncid=1479">Yahoo! News - World Photos - AP
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