US Military Aircraft Hit in South Sudan

[mystery-ak]

http://www.newsmaxworld.com/GlobalTalk/sudan-military/2013/12/21/id/543149

 US Military Aircraft Hit in South Sudan

Saturday, 21 Dec 2013 07:03 AM



KAMPALA, Uganda  — Two officials have told the Associated Press that two U.S. military aircraft responding to the outbreak of violence in South Sudan were hit by incoming fire, wounding three U.S. service members.

The officials said the aircraft were heading to Bor, the capital of the state of Jonglei and scene of some of the nation's worst violence over the last week. One of the wounded service members was reported to be in critical condition. Officials said after the aircraft took incoming fire, they turned around and headed to Kampala, Uganda. From there the service members flew on to Nairobi, Kenya for medical treatment.

Both officials demanded anonymity to share information not yet made public. Both officials work in East Africa and are in a position to know the information.

[mountaineer]

Whew! For a moment there I thought Obammy wasn't going to get us involved in any more wars!   

[mystery-ak]

http://thehill.com/blogs/global-affairs/africa/193815-report-us-troops-wounded-in-s-sudan-attack

December 21, 2013, 09:48 am
Report: Four US troops wounded in S. Sudan

By Rachel Huggins

Four U.S. military service members were injured Saturday when gunfire hit their aircraft during a mission to evacuate Americans in South Sudan, the Associated Press reported.

The U.S. military aircraft was heading to Bor, the capital of the state of Jonglei, when fire from the ground hit.

A U.S. military statement quoted by Reuters said, "after receiving fire from the ground while approaching the site, the aircraft diverted to an airfield outside the country and aborted the mission," the statement said. "The injured troops are being treated for their wounds."

The State Department announced Tuesday it was suspending normal operations at the U.S. Embassy in South Sudan, and it issued a new travel warning for Americans in that region in the face of "ongoing political and social unrest."

[EC]

The Associated Press ‏@AP 10m

BREAKING: Officials tell AP gunfire hit UN helicopter Friday in same South Sudan state U.S. aircraft was hit.

Story here: http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php/topic,123911.0.html

[mystery-ak]

http://thehill.com/blogs/global-affairs/africa/193815-report-us-troops-wounded-in-s-sudan-attack

December 21, 2013, 01:28 pm
Four US troops stabilized after S. Sudan attack

By Molly Hooper

Four U.S. military service members were injured Saturday when gunfire hit their aircraft during a mission to evacuate Americans in South Sudan, according to the Department of Defense.

The damaged aircraft diverted to Entebbe, Uganda, where the wounded were transferred to a U.S. Air Force C-17 plane and flown to Nairobi, Kenya for medical treatment. All four service members were treated and are in stable condition, the United States Africa Command said in a statement Saturday.

Three aircraft were attacked by small-arms fire while approaching the town of Bor, the military said. All three aircraft sustained damage.

A coup attempt in South Sudan has caused an uptick in violence in the volatile African country. Earlier this week, President Obama dispatched additional security to protect the U.S. Embassy in Juba, the capital.

Officials in the South Sudan government denied involvement with the attack on U.S. aircraft, according to the AP.

On Thursday, U.S. House co-chairs of the Sudan and South Sudan Caucus, called on “all leaders” in South Sudan to stop the “tragic violence in Juba and elsewhere in the country.”

“We are deeply concerned about the violence and killings that have spread across Juba over the past few days, as well as the internal displacement caused by the unrest," co-chairs Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Mass.), Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said in a statement.

"We urge all who have resorted to force to rededicate themselves to the democratic ideals which South Sudan has long strived toward.”

This story was updated at 1:12 p.m.