6 US-Led Soldiers Killed in Copter Crash, Forces Kill 3 Afghans

A US-led NATO helicopter has crashed in southern Afghanistan, leaving six American service personnel dead, US officials say.

The helicopter, a CH-53 Sea Stallion, went down in Helmand province, one official said on the condition of anonymity in the early hours of Friday. Another official has confirmed that all the dead are members of the US military.

The official added that according to initial indications the crash was not the result of an enemy fire. NATO's International Security Assistance Force said in a brief statement that "initial reporting indicates there was no enemy activity in the area at the time of the crash." Still, it said that the cause of the crash was "under investigation."
Meanwhile, at least three civilians, among them a teacher, have been killed after US-led military forces launched an attack in Afghanistan's eastern province of Nagarhar.