Is Taliban Seeing Imaginary Helos?

The Combined Forces Command – Afghanistan tells ANN that the Taliban have made yet another false claim of shooting down a U.S. helicopter Saturday, while two coalition troops were killed, officials reported. The Taliban claim came as at least 65 insurgents were killed during recent firefights with coalition forces in Afghanistan.

The Taliban falsely told the media June 24 that a U.S. helicopter was shot down in the Tarin Kowt area of Uruzgan Province. There's no truth to this claim, U.S. officials said, noting that all coalition helicopters are accounted for.

This is the second fake claim of downing a U.S. helicopter the Taliban have made in a week.

On June 17th, the Taliban made claims to the media that a U.S. helicopter was shot down in Paktika Province, killing the U.S. Soldiers onboard. The Combined Forces Command – Afghanistan quickly denied the claim noting that, "There is absolutely no truth to this claim. All U.S. helicopters are accounted for, and there were no U.S. casualties."

“The extremists are threatened by the presence of Afghan and Coalition forces in areas where they used to have safe havens and sanctuary,” said Col. Thomas Collins, Combined Forces Command – Afghanistan spokesman. “The Afghan national security forces and the Coalition will continue on the offensive and relentlessly pursue these extremists.  Together we will remove their negative influence from the region and enable progress in areas that need it.”

Coalition forces in Afghanistan number more than 26,000, of which more than 18,500 come formthe USA, while our Allies have fielded nearly 7,500 personnel from 25 Allied nations.

FMI: www.cfc-a.centcom.mil