A U.S. military helicopter crashed on Sunday in a combat operation near southern Iraqi city of Najaf, killing two U.S. soldiers on board, the U.S. military confirmed in a statement.

"While conducting operations to assist Iraqi Security Forces that were attacked earlier today, a Multi-National Division - Baghdad helicopter went down at approximately 1:30 p.m. (1030 GMT) north of Najaf," said the statement.

It added that the crash killed two U.S. soldiers on board and the bodies of the slain soldiers have been found.

Earlier in the day, Iraqi security forces backed by U.S. helicopters fought fierce battles with radical militant group outside the Shiite holy city of Najaf, some 160 km south of Baghdad.

Local witnesses had earlier reported that one U.S. Apache helicopter was shot down by the militants' fire and smoke was rising from a site controlled by the militants.

Source: Xinhua