A MILITARY TRANSPORT HELICOPTER WITH 10 U.S.-LED COALITION PERSONNEL ABOARD CRASHED WHILE CONDUCTING COMBAT OPERATIONS IN EASTERN AFGHANISTAN, A U.S. MILITARY SPOKESWOMAN SAID SATURDAY. NO INFORMATION ON THE FATE OF THOSE ON BOARD WAS IMMEDIATELY RELEASED, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTED. THE CH-47 CHINOOK CRASHED LATE FRIDAY WHILE ON A MISSION IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION MOUNTAIN LION, AN OFFENSIVE TO ROOT OUT TALIBAN AND AL-QAIDA MILITANTS NEAR THE MOUNTAINOUS BORDER WITH PAKISTAN. THE CRASH WAS NOT THE RESULT OF ENEMY FIRE, SAID LT. TAMARA D. LAWRENCE, A COALITION SPOKESWOMAN.
