Russian Chopper Crashes in Syria

A Russian Mi-28 attack helicopter crashed Tuesday near Hom, Syria, killing two pilots. The Russian Ministry of Defense said the helicopter, which it refers to as Night Hunter and NATO calls Havoc, crashed because of “technical reasons,” reported Reuters. The bodies of the pilots were recovered and transported to Hmeymim air base in Latakia province. Russian helicopters have been supporting advances of Syrian regime troops, even though Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he was withdrawing most of the country’s troops in Syria. The Mi-28 was the third aircraft Russia has said it has lost in Syria, including the Su-24 Turkey shot down in November and the helicopter that was shot down while attempting to rescue the pilots.