Special to WorldTribune.com

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s military aircraft have been targeted by Al Qaida.

On Oct. 2, Al Qaida is believed to have shot down an Iraq Army helicopter in Beiji near the Salah Eddin province.

The destruction of the U.S.-origin helicopter was the latest reported by the Iraq Army after years of quiet.

The attack killed all four crew members of the unidentified helicopter. The sources said this marked the second interception of an Army helicopter in as many months in 2013.

The sources said Al Qaida in Iraq was believed to have conducted the attacks. They said AQI received a range of anti-aircraft weapons, including variants of the Soviet-origin SA-7.

The helicopter attacks marked an AQI offensive in which nearly 1,000 Iraqis were killed in September.

“The assessment is that some type of missile or rocket-propelled grenade was used,” a security source said.

The sources said AQI has been bolstered by money from Gulf Cooperation Council states and plans to intensify attacks.

“As terrorists continue to target Iraqis indiscriminately, I call upon all political leaders to strengthen their efforts to promote national dialogue and reconciliation,” United Nations special envoy to Iraq Nikolei Mladenov said.

  000, Al Qaida offensive in Iraq kills 1, destroys U.S. origin helicopter, Nikolei Mladenov, Salah Eddin province, U.S.-origin helicopter