Russian Government Says Helicopter Shot Down by ISIS in Syria

The helicopter responded to a call for help fighting an ISIS offensive east of Palmyra

Two Russian pilots were killed after their military helicopter was shot down by ISIS fighters in Syria, according to the Russian military, NBC News reported. 

The pilots were on a test flight with ammunition near Homs when they responded to a call asking them for help fighting an ISIS offensive east of Palmyra, Russia’s defense ministry said in a statement reported by state media Tass. 

"After having run out of ammunition, the turning around helicopter was hit by militants' gunfire from the ground and crashed in the area controlled by the Syrian governmental army. The crew died," the defense ministry said in the statement. 

Russian forces began intervening in September on behalf of Syrian President Bashar Assad in the government’s efforts to fight ISIS.

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