KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Afghanistan's president phoned President Obama Sunday to offer condolences for the deaths of 30 U.S. troops in a helicopter crash there, the White House said.
During the call from Afghan leader Hamid Karzai, "Obama noted the extraordinary service of the Americans who gave their lives, and expressed his condolences for the Afghans who died serving by their side," the White House said in a statement issued afterward. "The two presidents reaffirmed their commitment to the mission in Afghanistan, which is critical to the security of both our countries, and agreed to stay in close contact."
The White House also said Obama called U.S. generals in Afghanistan and stateside to express his sorrow for those killed "and to reaffirm the American people's support for our men and women in uniform and their families."
The U.S. military said Sunday it was notifying the families of the troops killed when the helicopter carrying Navy SEAL commandos was shot down in Afghanistan.
The SEALs and other special operations troops died along with seven Afghans and an interpreter when their aircraft went down during a combat mission in Wardak province Friday night.
A spokesman for the International Security Assistance Force told CNN the remains of the casualties were being removed from the crash site and their next of kin were being given the sad news.
The shoot-down follows the recent killing of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in neighboring Pakistan during a raid conducted by SEALs and the impending reduction of U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan.
Congressional leaders said Sunday the crash would probably not slow planned troop withdrawals.
Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., said Sunday the U.S. pullout would not be a 100 percent departure and enough forces would remain in Afghanistan to prevent the Taliban from taking over the country.
"Our presence must continue to diminish to the point that we have the ability to protect our national security interests as we go forward," Kerry said on NBC's "Meet the Press."
Kerry said the United States was continuing to press for a political settlement among the many regional stakeholders in Afghanistan.
But Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., reiterated his stance that the troop withdrawal was premature and did not have the backing of U.S. commanders.
"There's no doubt that we have had significant success, particularly in the southern part of Afghanistan," said McCain. "The reason why I worry a lot is I'm not sure we have sufficient number of troops for another fighting season so we can gain control in the eastern side of the country."
