Two Russian pilots were killed near the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria’s western Homs province Friday when Daesh downed a helicopter belonging to the Syrian army, the Russian Defence Ministry said Saturday.
According to an official statement released by the ministry, Russian pilots were flying a Mi-25 helicopter.
Russia’s Interfax news agency claimed in its report that an American TOW anti-tank missile system was used to down the helicopter.
Russian troops have been supporting the Bashar al-Assad regime since September 2015.
Western governments and Turkey have accused Moscow of targeting moderate opposition forces in its campaigns.