11. On Sunday, the Marines nearly doubled the size of their combat helicopter fleet at the desert airstrip they seized late last month. 12. So far, the US combat helicopters have flown only training missions. 13. The outpost now has electricity, advanced communications systems, Internet connections, combat helicopters, other major weaponry and a hospital, and other improvements are being added. 14. U.S. combat helicopters dipped and rose like large flies against the lofty mountains. 15. While Israeli combat helicopters hovered above Nablus, American officials worked the phones, urging restraint and invoking the security cooperation agreement hammered out in Egypt. 16. Palestinian security officials have reported an increase in tanks and combat helicopters. 17. A first counternarcotics brigade, trained by U.S. special forces and equipped with U.S.-donated combat helicopters, has been operating for more than a year. 18. Also in Western Algeria, soldiers in six combat helicopters launched a search operation Saturday for militants in the mountainous Zaccar region, Liberte newspaper reported. 19. Also Tuesday, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat toured a command center hit by Israeli combat helicopters late Monday, and Palestinian youths renewed their clashes with Israeli troops. 20. Already, U.S.-donated combat helicopters have been diverted from anti-drug missions to rescue Colombian policemen under attack by rebels, and critics see many other quandaries developing. |