The Israeli air force has "reduced helicopter flights over the West Bank and Gaza Strip" in recent months due to mounting concerns that they might "draw fire from the ground". Transport helicopter flights have also been reduced to a minimum, according to HaAretz daily.
In its Wednesday edition, the Tel-Aviv based paper said the "change in policy" emerges from the experience of US soldiers in Iraq, where Iraqi resistance fighters on the ground have managed to down several helicopters since the ouster of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.
On Tuesday, a US Apache attack helicopter was shot down near the Iraqi town of Habbaniyah, around 80 kilometers west of Baghdad - the third helicopter downed in the region in less than two weeks.
In addition, the Israeli air force has decided to "stop using some of its helicopter landing pads in the West Bank and Gaza", and to use others "only at night". Several landing sites considered too close to the "Green Line" have been moved.
However, it should be noted that the air force continues to land helicopters participating in "rescue and various combat operations" within the Gaza Strip. (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
