Five people were killed as a US army helicopter crashed in southern Zabul province of Afghanistan Sunday.

"A US military CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed southwest of Deh Chopan today killing all five crew members onboard," said a press release of the military.

"The cause of the crash is unknown at this time. There are no indications of hostile fire involved at this time. An investigation has been initiated into the cause of the crash," it said.

"US military ground forces are at the crash scene providing security and recovery operations are ongoing," it noted.

The aircraft was supporting operations in the area at the timeof the crash, it said.

Deh Chopan, the hotbed of Taliban militants, has been the sceneof violent skirmishes over the past two years.

The militants who failed to derail the landmark September 18 parliamentary polls have vowed to continue Jihad or holy war until the US-dominated foreign troops leave Afghanistan.

Over 1,200 people with majority of whom militants have been killed since the beginning of this year.

Source: Xinhua