MOSUL, Iraq — An Iraqi helicopter was shot down by a rocket launched from west Mosul and then crashed in the eastern side, a Rudaw correspondent in Mosul reported.
The Joint Operations Command of the Iraqi military issued a statement confirming that two members of the air force were killed in an operation assisting the Federal Police in west Mosul. “Their helicopter was hit by hostile fire,” the statement confirmed.
Yahya Rasoul, Iraqi army spokesman for the Joint Military Command, also confirmed the report to Rudaw earlier.
Fierce fighting has continued as Iraqi forces battle to retake the Old City, where 400,000 people are believed to live.
The offensive to recapture western Mosul from ISIS began on February 19.
