A military helicopter crashed in Afghanistan’s northern Baghlan province on Sunday, killing all eight aboard, officials told Al Jazeera.
The crash took place on Saturday in Dand-e-Ghori district while the helicopter was supplying a military base.
Dawlat Waziri, spokesperson for the Afghanistan Defence Ministry, stated that five crew members and three army soldiers were killed in the crash.
Waziri blamed a technical problem which “caused the helicopter to catch fire and hit the ground,” according to AP.
Yet, the Taliban issued a statement claiming responsibility for downing the helicopter, saying it was shot down by the armed group’s fighters.
Baghlan officials also told Al Jazeera that the Taliban had shot down the helicopter as it was trying to provide logistics support to the Dand-e-Ghori ground forces, close to provincial capital Pul-e-Khumri.
Earlier this year, Afghan security forces launched a major operation to clear Dand-e-Ghori from the Taliban, as the armed group was trying to create safe havens for their spring offensive.
Taliban fighters have recently increased their attacks on Afghan forces in northern Baghlan and neighbouring Kunduz provinces.
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