Tuesday: 9 NATO Troops Killed in Afghanistan; Fed Meets on Economy

File photo of a U.S. UH-60 Black Hawk military helicopter. Photo by Shah Marai/AFP/Getty Images.

A NATO helicopter crashed Tuesday in southern Afghanistan, killing nine NATO troops. Some reports indicate that the soldiers were American. The cause of the crash was not immediately clear. The Taliban claimed to have shot down the helicopter, but NATO said there were no reports of hostile fire.

One other coalition service member, an Afghan National Army soldier and a U.S. civilian were injured. The crash occurred in Zabul province, a rugged area where helicopters are frequently used to transport troops over mountainous terrain with few roads.

The nationalities of the service members who died have not yet been released. However, citing U.S. officials, NBC News and CNN said that all of the victims were American and that the crash’s cause remained under investigation.

Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousef Ahmadi, told the Associated Press and NBC News by telephone that insurgents shot down the helicopter.

So far this year, 525 U.S. and NATO forces have been killed in Afghanistan, surpassing the 504 killed last year. This year has been the deadliest for international forces since the war began in 2001.

Fed Meeting on Possible Steps to Lift Economy

Federal Reserve officials are set to debate whether and how to take additional steps to further support the U.S. economy.

The AP reports: “Lots of lively debate is expected at Tuesday’s meeting. But few expect any major programs to be unveiled. Instead, many will be looking to see if the Fed offers new clues about the timing of any new aid and what changes in the economy would trigger such a move.”

North Korea to Hold State Leadership Meeting

North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party will meet in Pyongyang on Sept. 28 to select their “supreme leadership body,” the official Korean Central News Agency said Tuesday. It might be an indication that the regime is ready to give Kim Jong-Il’s youngest son, Kim Jong-Un, a key position that will pave the way for his succession.

Vote on Defense Spending Might Hinge on ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

For more news, including the Senate Democrats’ move to attach a repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy to a bill authorizing $726 billion in military spending next year, check out the Morning Line.