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Russia Says Helicopter Downed In Syria, Crew Evacuated Safely


The wreckage of a Russian helicopter that was shot down in Syria's Idlib Province in August
The wreckage of a Russian helicopter that was shot down in Syria's Idlib Province in August

The Russian military said one of its helicopters in Syria came under rebel fire and made an emergency landing on November 3, but no crew members were hurt.

The military's Reconciliation Center in Syria said the helicopter came under fire in the province of Hama while on a mission to deliver humanitarian aid and made an emergency landing about 40 kilometers northwest of the city of Palmyra.

It said the landing site came under rebel fire, but the crew was unhurt. A rescue helicopter quickly arrived to evacuate the crew to the Hemeimeem air base in Syria's coastal province of Latakia, which is used by the Russian military.

Amaq, a news agency affiliated with the Islamic State extremist group, appeared to provide a different version of the incident. It said a Russian military helicopter was destroyed by rocket fire in the rural town of Huwaysis in central Syria.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an independent group monitoring the Syrian war, said a helicopter came under fire while landing in the Huwaysis area.

Russia has lost four helicopters in Syria, where it has waged an air campaign in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces.

Based on reporting by AP, Reuters, and TASS

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