KABUL, AFGHANISTAN-Taliban insurgents shot down a U.S. helicopter in eastern Afghanistan Saturday, killing all aboard. The incident claimed the lives of 30 military personnel, including 22 SEAL members. Also killed was one civilian translator and seven Afghan commandos.

The twin-rotor Chinook helicopter was operating in the Wardak province, where a unit of Army Rangers was pinned down by enemy fire, the incident occurred shortly after take-off right after midnight.

The downing of the helicopter by rocket-propelled grenade was the largest loss of U.S. troops in a single incident to occur in Afghanistan in the ten years of military involvement there. Although there have been other shoot-downs, the loss of life in those incidences was much smaller. Even so, the downing of helicopters by enemy fire has been rare. Most crashes have been attributed to severe weather conditions or mechanical failure.

This downing came as preparations of a 10,000 troop draw down of troops is being conducted. ISAF now has 150,000 troops in the region. The U.S. has contributed just under 100,000 of those troops.

This latest incident has alarmed law-makers in Kabul and has raised the consern levels there. They are worried that the strength of the insurgency is growing. Parliament member, Khalid Pashton stated, “This shows the Taliban are now more mobilized than before. Now there is an organized play in Afghanistan that seems (to suggest) that U.S. forces will soon leave.”

President Obama, speaking of the tragedy, said the deaths were “a reminder of the extraordinary sacrifices made by the men and women of our military and their families, including all who have served in Afghanistan.”