Over a dozen killed as US helicopter downed in Iraq

By: Hamoud Kufi

FALLUJAH, Iraq: A US Chinook helicopter carrying dozens of soldiers to leaves abroad was struck by a missile and crashed in cornfields west of Baghdad on Sunday, according to the US command and witnesses.

More than a dozen soldiers were killed while nearly two-dozen injured in the incident, which occurred while the helicopter was flying towards Baghdad airport.

A military spokesman said the downed helicopter had been carrying 32 to 35 people. He said rescue teams were in the area where the helicopter came down.

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