SEALs Killed in Afghan Crash were on a Rescue Mission

The 30 American service members, most of them elite Navy SEALs, who died when their helicopter was shot down near Kubal, Afghanistan, were on a rescue mission to help Army Rangers who had come under fire, Saturday.

The heavy loss shows that clandestine tactics carry huge risks despite the huge success of the SEAL mission that killed Osama bin Laden. Most of the SEALs who died Saturday were from the same unit that killed bin Laden, although none of the men took part in Operation Neptune Spear.

The U.S. led coalition plans to rely more on special operations missions as it reduces the overall number of combat troops by the end of 2014.

This weekend, the rescue team had subdued attackers who had pinned down the Rangers and were departing in their Chinook helicopter when the aircraft was apparently hit.

Thirty Americans and eight Afghans were killed in the crash, making it the deadliest single loss for U.S. forces in the decade long war in Afghanistan. The Rangers, special operations forces who work regularly with the SEALs, secured the crash site in the Tangi Joy Zarin area of Wardak province, about 60 miles southwest of Kabul.

All but two of the SEALs were from SEAL Team 6, the unit that killed bin Laden, officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information.

Afghanistan has more U.S. special operations troops, about 10,000, than any other theater of war. The forces, often joined by Afghan troops, are among the most effective weapons in the coalition's arsenal, conducting surveillance, infiltration, capture missions and night raids.

From April to July this year, 2,832 special operations raids captured 2,941 insurgents and killed 834, twice as many as during the same time period last year, according to NATO.

Video Credit: The Associated Press

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Navy
• Seals
• Rescue
• Chopper
• Crash
• Army
• Rangers
• Taliban
• Insurgents
• Afghanistan

[talibfan]

@bobbyflavor go to hell us army

[ScarsOfTheCrucifix]

fuuuuuck....this sucks..

[ronniebass21]

There were Pararescueman 3 of them not combat controllers. Give the PJs credit there the ones who were going to do all the medical work!!!

[omari898]

@jenggo4ever bitch please say that to a real seals face instead of saying it in front of a screen

[enyfd]

Fuck you mike kala....These guys are going to Valhalla not hell...but u bet your ass the rag heads responsible ended up there after are boys seeker revenge

[mikkalainer11]

22 yakne rats are going to hell, that info made my day :)

[RoninFreakyStops]

Right. I don't believe that shit... that's why there's a cryptologist and a K9 AND an EOD detachment on it. That doesn't sound like a rescue team to me.

[esh325]

@EJalbert34 It is cowardly to speak ill of the dead, but please stop living in a hollywood movie where America is always the good guy. There are no good guys anymore in war, it's bad guy vs bad guy. We've killed thousands of innocent civilians too.

[bobbyflavor]

Dontsig wow you are 1 dumb fuck who thinks he knows it all. "CSAR" whats that and no comment on how many members are in seal team 6...sorry shit for brains

[bobbyflavor]

Dontsig are you trying to kick some knoledge motha fucker! Did I hurt your feelings...Who gives a shit about the taliban. Have you even been in the milirary! dont think so. You have never been in a combat situation so go fuck yourself. So that being said you are not qualified to even speak. Shut the fuck up and go "get some" and then if you can even make it one tour then tell me how much you love the taliban you wisky tango fuck....