GRISLY VIDEO: Russian helicopter shot down in rebel-held Syria

The helicopter came down near the town of Saraqeb, in Idlib province, roughly midway between Aleppo and the Russian Air Force base at Khmeimim, near the Mediterranean coast.

Beirut/Moscow: A Russian military helicopter was shot down in Syria`s rebel-held Idlib province on Monday killing all five people on board, in the biggest officially acknowledged loss of life for Russian forces since they started operations in Syria.

As per Russia`s Defence Ministry, the Mi-8 military transport helicopter had been shot down after delivering humanitarian aid to the city of Aleppo as it made its way back to Russia`s main airbase in the western province of Latakia.

Images on social media purportedly taken at the scene of the crash showed a dead body stripped of clothing being dragged through the dirt near the wreckage. Russian identity documents purportedly taken from the helicopter could also be seen.

No group has claimed responsibility for shooting down the helicopter. Islamic State fighters are not active in the area, but there are other Islamist rebel groups there, as well as moderates backed by the United States and its allies.

(With Agency inputs)