Was the Russian Mi-35M destroyed by friendly fire in Syria?
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Summary is AI-generated, newsroom-reviewed.
On July 8, Daesh claimed to have shot down a Russian helicopter near Palmyra, resulting in the deaths of two Russian pilots. The Russian Ministry of Defense initially denied the incident but later confirmed the deaths while maintaining that it was not a Russian helicopter that was downed.
Key points from this article:
- The Amaq agency reported that a Russian Mi-35 helicopter was shot down during a Daesh attack on Palmyra, leading to the capture of three Syrian army checkpoints.
- How the incident affects Russia: The deaths of Colonel Ryafagat Habibullin and operator pilot Dolgin highlight the risks faced by Russian military personnel involved in operations in Syria.
- Why this matters: The conflicting reports from the Russian Ministry of Defense and Daesh underscore the ongoing tensions and complexities of the conflict in Syria, as well as the challenges in verifying military claims.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has claimed the helicopter was shot down with a US anti-tank guided missile TOW. However, during the Russian campaign in Syria, there have been no reports of Daesh capturing TOWs or their appearance in their possession.
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