A US Chinook helicopter crashed west of the city of Asadabad during an anti-guerrilla operation in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday, with no immediate report of casualties, the US military said.

"The cause of the crash and status of survivors is unknown," it said in a statement. "US fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters are currently providing close air support to the forces on the ground. "

Taliban rebels have claimed responsibility for bringing down the twin-rotor aircraft.

According to Army sources, Chinooks, a mainstay of the US-led coalition force in the central Asian state, is capable of carrying up to 33 troops.

This is the second crash of a US military CH-47 in Afghanistan in less than three months. Another crash occurred on April 6 near Kabul in a dust storm, killing 18 on board.

Source: Xinhua