DAR AL ISLAM - IRAQ: CAREFULLY PLANNED STRATEGY TO BRING DOWN U.S. HELICOPTERS IN IRAQ

Planning seen in insurgents' attacks on U.S. helicopters

WASHINGTON: Documents captured from Iraqi insurgents indicate that some of the recent fatal attacks against U.S. helicopters are the result of a carefully planned strategy to focus on downing coalition aircraft, one that U.S. 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 a U.S. 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.

Officials say they are a fresh indication that the United States is facing an array of "adaptive" adversaries in Iraq, foes who are likely to step up their attacks as U.S. forces expand their efforts to secure Baghdad, the Iraqi capital.

"Attacks on coalition aircraft probably will increase if helicopter missions expand during the latest phase of the Baghdad Security Plan or if insurgents seek to emulate their recent successes," notes the intelligence report, which analyzes the recent helicopter crashes.

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1) Planning seen in insurgents' attacks on U.S. helicopters