Sources: Captured insurgent documents show planned focus on downing aircraft

A resident from the village of Al Jasan steps on the wing of a U.S. F-16 fighter which was shot down last November, killing the pilot

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 — Documents captured from Iraqi insurgents indicate that some of the recent fatal attacks against American helicopters are the result of a carefully planned strategy to focus on downing coalition aircraft, one that American officials say has been carried out by mounting coordinated assaults with machine guns, rockets and surface-to-air missiles.

The documents, which are said to have been drafted by Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, show that the militants were preparing to “concentrate on the air force.” The contents of the documents are described in an American intelligence report that was reviewed by The New York Times. Seized near Baghdad, the documents reflected the insurgents’ military preparations from late last year, including plans for attacking aircraft using a variety of weapons.

Read the rest at the NY Times

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