A US military Special Operations helicopter made a crash landing in southern Iraq today, but the crew and troops aboard were rescued, US officials said.
The crash of the helicopter occurred before bombing and cruise missile raids were launched against targets on the outskirts of Baghdad, the officials said.
They refused to say exactly where the crash occurred but suggested the helicopter would be destroyed to keep it from falling into Iraqi hands.
One official said the helicopter was part of a drive to get elite troops into areas of Iraq ahead of a major ground invasion "at the appropriate time".