The helicopter hit a rocket west of the city of Aleppo, crashing into the town of Urum al-Kubra today, killing all the crew.

"One of our military helicopters was hit by a rocket on the western outskirts of Aleppo this afternoon. The helicopter crashed near the town of Urum al-Kubra, where pro-Turkish rebels control. aircraft killed, "Syrian state news agency SANA reported on February 14.

Neither party has claimed responsibility for the downing of a Syrian army helicopter. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), based in the UK, said pro-Turkish rebels launched a missile that shot down a helicopter, killing two pilots.

This is the second military helicopter of the Syrian army shot down in the week. A helicopter was shot down and crashed into Idlib province on February 11, killing three people on board. Turkish media said Ankara-backed rebel groups carried out the attack, but SOHR accused the Turkish military itself of launching the rocket into a helicopter as it flew over the village of Qaminas, southeast. Idlib city.

Syrian troops and government forces began their offensive against the last rebel-controlled territory in Idlib province on January 27. The campaign to retake Idlib was launched after a truce agreed by Russia and Turkey on January 12 broke down.

A cannon battle between the Syrian army and Turkey occurred on February 3, killing at least 20 soldiers on each side. Turkey sent fighters to attack positions of the Syrian army in response, and warned the parties that challenged the country "would understand that they made a big mistake".

Idlib province is currently the only region controlled by rebel groups in Syria. Since the end of 2019, the Syrian Army has liberated 46 settlements in the south and east of the province from rebels.

Location of the town of Urum al-Kubra in Syria (marked in red). Graphics: Google.