An Interfax news agency report claims that Islamic State/IS/ISIS in Syria used an American made TOW anti-tank missile to shoot down a helicopter, killing two Russian airmen on Friday, quoting Russian military sources. Japan Times reports: It said insurgents from the Islamic State group hit the airmen’s Mi-25 assault helicopter with a U.S.-made TOW heavy anti-tank missile, a weapon that uses guidance from a ground station. The high-tech system is in service with the U.S. military. “According to information we have, the terrorists used an American TOW,” Interfax quoted the unnamed source as saying. The Islamic State group on Saturday claimed responsibility. Amaq, a news agency that disseminates the group’s propaganda, posted online video purporting to show the incident. The video shows a flash of light at the helicopter’s tail, and the rear rotor unit appears to fall away. The helicopter then goes into a spin before crashing, to cries of “God is greatest” in audio accompanying the images. As the aircraft goes down, a second helicopter passes by. It is of similar appearance to the stricken Mi-25. Interfax quoted the military source as saying the downed helicopter had run out of ammunition and was returning to base. Russian newspapers reported [...]
