ISIS shot down an Iraqi army helicopter.
(Baonghean.vn) - On Wednesday, August 10th, an Iraqi military reconnaissance plane was shot down by jihadist fighters of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) near an oil refinery in Baiji, located 130 km north of Baghdad.
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| An Iraqi army helicopter near the Haditha Dam in Anbar province. Photo: Azhar Shallal |
An Iraqi air force spokesman said the helicopter was shot down by a mobile anti-aircraft missile. Last Friday, in the same area, ISIS also shot down an Iraqi army Mi-35 fighter jet, killing the pilot and co-pilot.
The Baiji refineries are known to be the largest in Iraq. They supply one-third of the oil-rich nation's output and are considered a key economic target for ISIS. Four months ago, fierce fighting took place in the area. Iraqi special forces have stated that the security situation in Baiji is very complex.
In initial commitments made on Sunday and Monday, Washington announced it would provide the Iraqi military with additional fighter jets. At the request of the Iraqi government, upcoming coalition airstrikes against ISIS will target mortar and missile positions held by jihadists in Fallujah, located 70 kilometers west of Baghdad. Military sources indicated that Apache helicopters will be assigned to conduct these airstrikes.
Chu Thanh –According to LeMonde 8/10
