Media: Russian helicopter shot in Syria
A Russian helicopter was shot down in the east of the Syrian Latakia province by members of the Ahrar al-Sham group, the Arab news outlet Al Masdar reports.
According to the publication, the helicopter was shot down by heavy machine gun fire from the region on the border with Turkey.
There is currently no information on the number of casualties or wounded. The Russian military is reportedly conducting an active search for the downed helicopter.
The Russian center for reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria denied that a helicopter had been shot down.
“All flying devices of the Russian aerospace forces are at the base airport or are carrying out tasks in Syria as intended,” said the center’s representative in Hmeimim.
According to him, the report regarding the alleged downed Russian helicopter is baseless. According to the Russian military, the rumor was started by terrorist-controlled information resources.
Russia has already lost several helicopters during its campaign in Syria. In August 2016 an Mi-8 helicopter carrying five soldiers was destroyed in the Idlib province. There were no survivors.
Previously a Syrian Mi-25 helicopter piloted by a Russian crew was shot down in Homs. There were two casualties, one of them being Colonel Rafagat Khabibulin.