Russian helicopter downed by IS militants near Syria's Palmyra

Russian helicopter downed by IS militants near Syria's Palmyra
The Islamic State group shot down a military helicopter near Palmyra on Friday killing two Russian pilots on board, Moscow confirmed on Saturday.
2 min read
09 July, 2016
IS claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement reported on Friday [Getty]
Two Russian pilots have been killed in Syria after their helicopeter was shot down by Islamic State group militants, Russian state news agency Tass said on Saturday.

The pilots were killed when their helicopter came under fire near the eastern Syrian city of Palmyra on Friday.

Among the dead was Colonel Habibullin, who Conflict Intelligence Team said is likely the most senior ranking Russian officer to die in Syria.

The airmen were carrying out a test flight with a Russian Mi-35m chopper carrying ammunition when they were hit by IS militants, a defence ministry statement reported by Tass said.
 
The pilots "had used up all their ammunition and were on their way back when they came under the fire of terrorists and crashed," the statement said, adding: "The crew died."

IS claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement reported on Friday by the militant's news agency Amaq.

"Solider of the Caliphate downed a Russian assault helicopter when it attempted to attack their positions," the statement said, "This resulted in its destruction and killed those who were on board."

An image of the downed plane taken from the video released by IS-run news agency Amaq

A video released by Amaq showing the downing of the helicopter was circulated on social media.

Meanwhile Russia's Interfax news agency, citing a Russian military source, reported that the aircraft was shut down using a US antitank missile system.

"According to reports, terrorists used the American TOW system to down the helicopter, which, having exhausted its ammunition, was on the course back to the base at an extremely low altitude," Russia Today reported Interfax as saying. 

Russia has been carrying out air raids in Syria since 30 September in support of Syrian regime forces.

The air campaign has allowed Russia to test some of its latest weapons, which opposition activists say includes vacuum bombs.

Russia's bombing has killed 2,500 Syrian civilians, including almost 600 children, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said this month.

Moscow puts the death toll of Russian military personnel killed in Syria at 12, after the death of the two pilots.