U.S. Military Confirms Helicopter Down In Iraq

The U.S. military says a transport helicopter went down near Baghdad today, the fifth U.S. helicopter lost in Iraq in recent weeks.

U.S. military spokesman Major General William Caldwell confirmed the incident, but did not comment on casualties.

"We have a CH-46 [helicopter] that is down," Caldwell said. "The quick reaction force is on site, and the investigation is going on as we speak. That is a location to the northwest here of Baghdad, about [30 kilometers away]."

The CH-46 can carry up to 55 passengers.

Four other U.S. helicopters have crashed or been shot down in Iraq in the last few weeks, killing a total of 21 troops and private contractors.

Caldwell also announced that new Iraqi-led security operations intended to quell insurgent and sectarian fighting in Baghdad are now under way.

The Iraqi general who is leading the security drive took over the operation headquarters on February 5, but there have been no further announcements on the operations until today.

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