Officials in Baghdad say that militants with the Islamic State group have downed an Iraqi military helicopter near the refinery town of Beiji, killing the two pilots on board.
A military aviation official says the militants used a shoulder-fired missile to take down the Bell 407 helicopter north of Beiji today. The town is home to Iraq's largest oil refinery and is located about about 200 kilometers north of Baghdad.
A Defense Ministry official confirmed the attack. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.
This is the second Iraqi military helicopter shot down over Beiji by Islamic State militants in one week.
Militants shot down an Mi-35 helicopter near Beiji on Friday, also killing the pilot and co-pilot in that attack.
