12 Turkish soldiers killed in Kabul

12 Turkish soldiers were killed in a helicopter crash in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Friday, Turkey s military announced. The Sikorsky helicopter belonged to the Turkish armed forces and was serving under the Kabul regional command as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), the military said in a brief statement posted on its website.  The crash occurred at 10:25 am local time, according to the military.  The death toll is believed to be the heaviest thus far encountered by the Turkish army in war-torn Afghanistan.  Turkey, NATO s sole Muslim member, currently has 1,800 soldiers serving in the ISAF in Afghanistan.  In October, Turkey extended by another year its Kabul regional command of the ISAF. Unlike other European members of ISAF, Turkey s mission is limited to patrols and its troops do not take part in combat operations.