Russian Helicopter Delivering Humanitarian Aid Shot Down Over Syria

It’s been nearly a year since one of Russia’s Su-24 fighter jets was shot down over Syria, sparking diplomatic tensions between Russia and Turkey. Now another Russian aircraft has been shot down by an unnamed rebel group. Though it doesn’t appear that Turkey was involved this time, the attack may turn into an international incident if it’s discovered that the rebels were backed and supplied by the US.

The Mi-8 transport helicopter was shot down over the Idlib province on Monday, killing all five passengers, which included two officers and three crew members. According to General Sergey Rudskoy “The helicopter was hit from the ground in an area under control of the armed units of Al-Nusra Front terrorist group and the troops of the so-called ‘moderate opposition’ who joined them.”

Surprisingly, the helicopter was not on a military mission. It was returning to a Russian air base at Khmeimim after delivering humanitarian supplies to the city of Aleppo. The helicopter was operating with the Russian Reconciliation Center at the air base, which is responsible for negotiating peace talks between the Syrian government and some of the moderate opposition groups, as well as delivering humanitarian aid to civilians.

While the West is sure to claim that this is Russian propaganda, and that the aircraft was really on a military supply run, there is some evidence to suggest that the Russians are telling the truth. A partially burned ID card showing a picture of a blonde woman was found in the wreckage by militants on the ground. Clearly, this was no ordinary military flight.