6 civilians killed in Afghan copter crash

KABUL, Afghanistan, July 14 (UPI) -- At least six civilians flying aboard a private helicopter were killed in a crash Tuesday in southern Afghanistan, NATO officials say.

NATO told the BBC it wasn't yet clear what caused the crash, which happened near the Sangin military base in Helmand province, where 4,000 U.S., NATO, British and Afghan troops are staging a major offensive against Taliban militants.

Helmand's governor told the British broadcaster that witnesses said the helicopter was shot down by insurgents. CNN reported a Taliban spokesman claimed the militants shot down an aircraft and killed 37 foreign soldiers, but added such claims by the Taliban frequently turn out to be exaggerated or false.

"At around 0900 a.m. this morning, a private helicopter has crashed outside Sangin military base ... we have at least six people killed," a spokesman for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force said in a statement.

Two U.S. Marines were also killed in southern Afghanistan, Brig. Gen. Eric Tremblay, spokesman for ISAF, said Tuesday. He released no other details about their deaths, CNN reported.

The Helmand push is heavily reliant on helicopters to move troops and supplies, the BBC said.