Now al-Qaida claiming credit for downed chopper

Now al-Qaida is getting in on the action in Afghanistan today, claiming responsibility for the downing of a troop-carrying helicopter and promising more "revenge" for the U.S. assassination raid that killed Osama bin Laden.

Already the Taliban claimed credit for yesterday's chopper attack that killed 38 in the largest loss of life suffered by foreign forces in a single incident in 10 years of war.

"The shooting of the U.S. aircraft is one of the first Jihadiya Salafiya reactions to the murder of Sheikh Osama bin Laden," stated Abu Saqer, leader of Jihadiya Salafiya in the Gaza Strip, in a brief telephone interview with WND.

Saqer said more such attacks will take place.

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Jihadiya Salafiya represents al-Qaida in the Gaza Strip. The worldwide Jihadiya Salafiya umbrella group includes al-Qaida in its leadership. Indeed, it functions largely as a branch of al-Qaida.

Thirty U.S. soldiers – some reportedly from the Navy's special forces SEAL Team 6, the unit that killed bin Laden – seven Afghans and an interpreter died in Friday night's crash.

The incident came just two weeks after foreign troops began a security handover to Afghan forces, some of which are reputed to be infiltrated by the Taliban.

The Taliban quickly claimed responsibility for bringing down the helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade.

Reuters is quoting a U.S. official in Washington as confirming the helicopter was believed to have been shot down.