U.S. probes collision of helicopters

• Article
• Comments ()
• Click-2-Listen
• Videos

By

BAGHDAD -- The U.S. military tried to determine yesterday whether insurgent gunfire caused the crash of two Black Hawk helicopters, killing 17 soldiers in the worst single loss of American life since the war in Iraq began.

Meanwhile, an audiotape purportedly by Saddam Hussein urged Iraqis to escalate attacks against the occupation and "agents brought by foreign armies" -- Iraqis who support the coalition.

The speaker on the tape, aired on Al Arabiya television, said the only way to end the chaos in Iraq was for Saddam and his now outlawed Ba'ath Party to return to power.

U.S. soldiers, meanwhile, took the offensive, with the military mounting operations in Baghdad and Saddam's home region of central Iraq. The military fired a satellite-guided missile with a 500-pound warhead at a guerrilla training base. There was no immediate information on casualties or damage. In a separate clash, four insurgents were killed.

"Any of those groups that are working against the best interest of the Iraqis are going to be targeted," said Army Lt. Col. William MacDonald, spokesman for the 4th Infantry Division.

Explosions thundered through central Baghdad after sundown yesterday, apparently part of Operation Iron Hammer, a new "get tough" strategy of going after insurgents before they strike.

Late yesterday, a large number of U.S. troops backed by armored vehicles and helicopters moved into the Sunni Muslim neighborhood of Azamiyah, sealing off a 20-block area and searching vehicles.

The CIA said it would review the purported Saddam tape for its authenticity, but President Bush dismissed the recording.