Coalition forces destroyed an anti-aircraft gun in southern Afghanistan Tuesday, officials said.The strike came several days after the U.S. military warned that new intelligence indicated insurgents had heavy weaponry that potentially could shoot down U.S. and coalition forces' helicopters, CNN reported
Villagers in Afghanistan's southern Helman province told troops that insurgents got a ZPU-1 anti-aircraft gun and placed it on the back of a truck, a NATO statement said. When troops located the gun, they said it was armed and ready.
Insurgents have tried unsuccessfully to down coalition helicopters in the south with surface-to-air fire, CNN reported. Recent intelligence, however, pointed to the acquisition of heavier caliber weapons that potentially would have a better chance to be successful.