A U.S. Army helicopter made a "hard landing" in northern Iraq and preliminary reports indicated a mechanical problem, the military said Thursday. The two crew members were wounded.
The OH-58 Kiowa helicopter, mostly used in surveillance and light attacks, came down south of Kirkuk, a military statement said, according to the AP. The two pilots were rescued and taken for medical treatment.
Meanwhile, fierce clashes between gunmen and police left at least eight people dead and 11 injured south of Baghdad on Thursday, police sources said. The clashes were reported in the town of Iskandariya, 40 km south of Baghdad, and police said both sides suffered casualties.
According to Reuters, a police source said the clashes were still in progress and they expected the casualty toll to rise.
Elsewhere, a car went off outside an Iraqi policman's wedding reception in the western city of Fallujah on Thursday, killing at least seven people, police Captain Ahmed Faisal said. According to AFP, Lieutenant Naim al-Jumaili and his bride survived the explosion.
