9 soldiers killed after helicopters crash amid battle

LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan — Two Afghan army helicopters collided while transporting wounded soldiers amid renewed fighting against Taliban militants in the southern Helmand province, killing nine Afghan service members, the country’s Defense Ministry and local officials said Wednesday.

The two Sovietera Mi17 helicopters crashed due to technical problems while taking off in Nawa district late Tuesday, the Afghan Defense Ministry statement said. The nine dead were all Afghan crew and soldiers on board the two aircraft.

The crash came amid a new wave of fighting in Helmand province between the Afghan military and Taliban insurgents. The Taliban control roughly 80% of Helmand, and in the past year have waged several attacks on the capital of Lashkar Gah only to be repulsed by Afghan security forces, whose control is largely restricted to district centers.

Attacks in other parts of the country Wednesday killed at least six Afghan security forces and eight civilians.

Omer Zwak, a spokesman for Helmand’s provincial governor, said Taliban fighters have launched coordinated attacks in different parts of Helmand province over the past week, which have intensified in recent days.

Zwak also said the helicopters that crashed Tuesday were carrying wounded troops. Three local officials in Helmand province said the helicopters were deploying Afghan commandos to repel a Taliban attack in Nawa district, and were evacuating wounded soldiers on their return flight.

On Monday, American forces said they had carried out several air strikes in Helmand province in support of Afghan security forces under attack by the Taliban.