U.S. helicopters shot down near Fallujah

Military officials said the Super Cobra helicopters were shot down in separate incidents and the crew members have been rescued.

The crashes come as U.S.-led forces continue to clash with insurgents in a struggle for control of the city.

Loud explosions and gunfire could be heard across the city on Thursday morning as helicopters hovered in the sky and marines took up positions on rooftops.

Air strikes and artillery pounded sections of the city where rebels held mortar positions and sniper nests.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2004/11/11/fallujah-fighting-041111.html

DUBAI (Reuters) - Two U.S. Cobra helicopters have been shot down near the Iraqi city of Falluja, Al Arabiya television said on Thursday, quoting U.S. military sources.

The Dubai-based Arabic satellite station gave no more details. U.S. forces are battling Iraqi insurgents in Falluja. Al Jazeera television also reported that two helicopters had been shot down.

About 10,000 U.S. troops, backed by 2,000 Iraqi government troops, are engaged in the battle for Falluja, which they entered on Monday after a fierce bombardment.

U.S. officers said Marine Corps and army units had gained a large presence throughout Falluja but were still taking some fire from Saddam Hussein loyalists and foreign militants.

In apparent retaliation, insurgents have staged attacks this week in the Sunni towns and cities of Samarra, Baiji, Baquba, Tikrit, Ramadi and parts of Baghdad.

http://olympics.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=6786532

NEAR FALLUJAH, Iraq -- The U.S. military said Thursday two U.S. Marine attack helicopters were shot down in separate incidents near Fallujah and their crews were rescued without injuries.

Both Super Cobra helicopters were hit with rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire and were forced to make hard landings, the military said.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apmideast_story.asp?category=1107&slug=Iraq%20Marine%20Copters