U.S. Helicopters Attacked Near Al-Fallujah

(file photo) 13 November 2004 -- Four U.S. helicopters were hit by insurgent ground fire in two separate attacks near the Sunni stronghold of Al-Fallujah, as fighting there entered its fifth day.
Two Kiowa helicopters were hit before dawn today in an ambush by insurgents firing rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns. Two Apache choppers also came under small arms fire late yesterday.

No crew members were injured in either attack.

Witnesses reported heavy U.S. air strikes and artillery in Al-Fallujah this morning. The U.S. military says it now controls about 80 percent of the city, despite continued resistance from insurgents.

Iraqi government troops are being sent to the northern city of Mosul to help quell a rebel uprising there.

(AP/Reuters)

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