Major Battle around Najaf, Iraq - US Chopper Reported Down

Reports are coming out, (I first heard it on FOX,) saying a major battle is ongoing right now around Najaf, Iraq... Fox News reports that at least 250 to 300 gunmen have been killed and a US helicopter is believed to have gone down in the fighting also.

2:00pm CST: Fox News just reported the US Military has confirmed that a US Helicopter has gone down in the battle. Two crew members were killed in the crash.

There is a cell phone video of some of the ongoing fighting and black smoke is in the background, said to be the downed US Helicopter. I’ll post the video as soon as it comes up on the web.

3:30pm CST: DOD - American Forces Press Service have put this report out:
Two U.S. soldiers were killed today when a Multinational Division Baghdad helicopter crashed north of Najaf, Iraq, military officials reported.

Officials said the helicopter was involved in operations to assist Iraqi security forces who had been attacked.

A news release announcing the crash did not report the type of helicopter and did not say whether it went down as a result of enemy action. Officials said operations continue in the area, the soldiers' bodies have been recovered, and that the incident is under investigation.

The soldiers' names are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
(From a Multinational Corps Iraq news release)

>>> FOXnews.com has this report on their website...
Coalition Forces Reportedly Kill at Least 250 Militants in Iraq (I believe they will be updating this link as more news comes in)
>>> TVNZ.co.nz has this report HERE (I believe they too will be updating this link as news comes in)
>>> Here’s a little info I found on the Battle at NEWS.com.au

More to come...
AubreyJ.........

>>> UPDATE: Monday, January 29, 2007
“Iraqi Army Killed Leader of Shiite Cult”
Guardian.co.uk has this story today and it goes in part like this... Iraq’s Army announced Monday it killed the leader of a heavily armed cult of messianic Shiites called “the Soldiers of Heaven” in a fierce gunbattle aimed at foiling a plot to attack leading Shiite clerics and pilgrims in the southern city of Najaf on the holiest day of the Shiite calendar.
Read the rest of the story HERE