Coalition to fight ISIS: Helicopter crashed in northern Iraq does not belong to the coalition

It is not known how the helicopter, which crashed in Duhok’s Çemanke district, fell into the hands of the PKK terrorist organization and for what purpose it was used.

Captain Kevin Livingston, a coalition spokesman, said: “The helicopter is not coalition owned and is not part of Combined Task Force Resolute Support (CJTF-OIR) operations (fighting DAESH).”

Recalling that the US has a very comprehensive radar capability in the region, Livingston responded to a question about where the helicopter in question came from: “The coalition was not tracking that aircraft and we don’t have any additional data other than what It is written in the open.” sources.”

In the statement of the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), regarding the helicopter that crashed in the Chemanke district of Duhok, the relevant institutions in the Kurdistan Region contacted the Iraqi central government, the international coalition forces and Turkey regarding the helicopter crash, but it was reported that the helicopter did not belong to them. Security forces launched a preliminary investigation into the helicopter and initial findings indicate that the helicopter was a Eurocopter AS350 type and that some of the dead were PKK militants. A detailed investigation continues to determine exactly who owns the helicopter.

Faced with allegations that the helicopter belongs to the PKK/YPG, which uses the name SDG, which the coalition supports in Syria, Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Patrick Ryder responded: “Not to my knowledge.” AA