Two Russian pilots have been killed after their military helicopter was shot down by the Islamic State fighter Syria. Russian military said the Syrian Mi-25 helicopter flown by Riafagat Khabibulin and Yevgeny Dolgin was brought down east of the ancient city of Palmyra on Friday. It was involved in an anti-IS operation at the Syrian government’s request.
IS later claimed responsibility for the attack. According to local media, the helicopter pilots had received a request from the Syrian military to carry out strikes against advancing militants. They had used up all their ammunition and were on their way back when they came under the fire of terrorists.