BEIRUT (AP) – A Russian military helicopter made an emergency landing for technical reasons in northeastern Syria on Sunday, the Russian Ministry of Defense said. Syrian state media said there were casualties among the crew.
Russia joined the Syrian war in September 2015 and has since helped to tip the balance of power in favor of President Bashar Assad’s forces. Russian troops are stationed in different parts of Syria, including the northeast.
Syrian state news agency SANA said the incident occurred near the village of Tel Tamr, in the northeast of Hassakeh province. One crew member was killed and others were injured, the report said, without further details.
The Russian Defense Ministry said a Russian Mi-35 helicopter made an emergency landing for technical reasons while patrolling Hassakeh province.
“According to the crew report, there was no impact from the helicopter shooting,” said the ministry. He added that the helicopter crew was evacuated.
“The crew of the Mi-35 helicopter was promptly delivered to the airfield by the search and rescue service. There was no threat to the pilots’ lives, ”said the ministry.
The Syrian Human Rights Observatory, based in Britain, an opposition war monitor, said the helicopter landed near a Russian military post and said the reason for the accident was unclear. He said several people on board were injured, including one in critical condition.
The Russian military has positions in different parts of Syria, including Tel Tamr, where its posts separate Turkey-backed opposition snipers and US-backed Kurdish fighters.