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On July 29, five Iraqi service members, including two pilots, were killed when their helicopter crashed in the northern province of Saladin.
In a statement, the Iraqi Security Media Cell said that the military helicopter, a Mi-17, crashed near the town of Amerli in the early hours of the morning while it was carrying out a “combat mission”.
“The helicopter was carrying pilot Colonel Osama Tariq Abd Obaid, pilot Major Ali Fadel Ghadban, Warrant Officer Louay Hatem Farhan, Warrant Officer Atheer Fayez Ibrahim and Warrant Officer Wissam Ali Sfeih,” the statement reads.
The Security Media Cell didn’t provide any further information. The crash may have been the result of a technical failure, or hostile fire.
ISIS terrorists are known to be fairly active in Saladin. The terrorists targeted Iraqi military helicopters in the past using man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADs).
The terrorist group’s cells may be still in possession of MANPADs. Two years ago, the Iraqi intelligence uncovered a weapons cache containing anti-aircraft missiles, two Soviet-made Strela-2, near the northern city of Mosul.
More information on the helicopter crash may surface in the upcoming few days. ISIS may claim responsibility for the incident.
