workers were reportedly preparing for more attacks against them as well.
News reports said a U.S. Black Hawk helicopter went down near former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s hometown of Tikrit, and military officials did not rule out the crash was caused by an attack adding that an investigation was ongoing.
This crash came just five days after 16 soldiers died when their Chinook helicopter was downed by what was believed to be a shoulder-fired missile near the town of Fallujah west of Baghdad.
The increased anti- American violence, comes amid reports that attacks specifically targeting Christian aid workers and other humanitarian organizations have increased in many areas of Iraq, Mission Network News (MNN), an international Christian broadcaster, reported.
WORLD VISION
"Despite this, World Vision continues to rebuild schools and health clinics in the west and the north of the country," MNN said. "Like many Iraqis, our staff are committed to rebuilding a nation that has suffered deeply," World Vision’s regional vice president for the Middle East, David Robinson told the network.
However, all staff members are "continually on high security alert, realizing that they may be pulled back to Amman, Jordan if conditions become worse," MNN reported.
Iraqi Christians and aid workers have also expressed concern about attacks against Christian entrepreneurs and incidents of Muslim violence aimed at Christian woman who refuse to cover their faces, BosNewsLife has established.
Scores of Christians have been killed or wounded in the post war violence carried out by Muslim extremists and remnants of the old regime human rights watchers and church sources say.
VULNERABLE
The developments have also underscored concern among Iraqis about the vulnerability of the U.S.-led coalition. As a large plume of smoke could be seen rising from the helicopter that crashed near a riverbank, Friday, November 7, news emerged about more attacks against American forces.
Also in Northern Iraq one American soldier was killed and at least six others wounded when their convoy came under attack in Mosul, believed to be the former ancient city of Nineveh where prophet Jonah brought God’s message of repentance.
The Voice of America (VOA) network quoted` the U.S. military as saying that the convoy, with the 101st Airborne Division, was attacked by a group of assailants firing rocket- propelled grenades.
ROADSIDE BOMB
In a separate incident in Mosul Friday, three U.S. soldiers were reported wounded by a roadside bomb.
Troops supporting the American efforts are also suffering. For the first time since Poland joined the multi-national force in Iraq, a Polish soldier was killed in action Thursday, November 6, south of Baghdad when his convoy was attacked as it was returning to the Polish headquarters in Babylon.
Another American soldier also died in a separate incident.
It was the first combat fatality for Poland, since it took charge of a 23- nation multinational force in September responsible for south-central Iraq. The force comprises about 10,000 troops, most of them Polish.
