31 Special Operation Soliders killed in Afghanistan Helicopter Crash

UPDATE 8/6/11

U.S. official: Killed forces were reinforcing troops in Afghanistan
By David Ariosto and Barbara Starr, CNN
August 6, 2011 -- Updated 2224

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Helicopter was on a reinforcement mission, U.S. military official says
22 of the dead are U.S. Navy SEALs, U.S. officials say
A majority belonged to the same unit that killed Osama bin Laden
7 Afghans died in the incident, President Karzai says

Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- In the single deadliest loss for U.S. troops since the Afghan war began in late 2001, 30 service members died early Saturday when a helicopter carrying them went down while they were reinforcing other troops, officials said.

Insurgents are believed to have shot down the CH-47 Chinook, a U.S. military official said. The Taliban claimed militants downed the helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade.
Among the 25 U.S. special operations forces killed in Wardak province were 22 Navy SEALS, considered to be the "best of the best." Seven Afghan troops also died.
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Killed forces were reinforcing troops in Afghanistan

UPDATE from CNN
U.S. official: about two dozen U.S. deaths in Afghan copter crash
By David Ariosto and Barbara Starr, CNN
August 6, 2011
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
NEW: Most of the dead are U.S. Navy SEALs, U.S. officials say
Obama and others express their condolences
A U.S. military official identified the helicopter as a CH-47 Chinook
A Taliban spokesman says insurgents shot down the helicopter in a rocket attack.
7 Afghans died in the crash, his office said

Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Most of those killed when a Chinook helicopter crashed in eastern Afghanistan overnight were U.S. Navy SEALs, two U.S. government officials said.
"It's a big loss" for the SEALs," one of the officials said. The numbers are high."
"It is believed that about two dozen Special Operations Forces, including some from other services, were on board the aircraft, in addition to the Army crew flying the craft."
Afghan President Hamid Karzai issued a statement saying as many as 31 U.S. special forces and seven Afghans were killed.
About two dozen U.S. deaths in Afghan copter crash

31 American Troops Killed In NATO Helicopter Crash In Afghanistan
By SOLOMON MOORE
08/ 6/11
KABUL, Afghanistan -- A helicopter crash in Afghanistan's eastern Wardak province has killed 31 U.S. special operation troops and seven Afghan soldiers, the country's president said on Saturday. It was the highest number of casualties recorded in a single incident in the decade-long war.

President Hamid Karzai sent his condolences to President Barack Obama, according to a statement issued by his office.

"A NATO helicopter crashed last night in Wardak province," Karzai said in the statement, adding that 31 American special operations troops were killed. "President Karzai expressed his deep condolences because of this incident and expressed his sympathy to Barack Obama."

NATO confirmed the overnight crash and said the alliance was conducting a recovery operation at the site and investigating the cause of the crash, but did not release details or a casualty figure. The coalition said there "was enemy activity in the area."
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31 American Troops Killed In NATO Helicopter Crash