All 7 dead in U.S. helicopter crash in Iraq, Pentagon says

BAGHDAD — All seven service members aboard a U.S. helicopter that crashed in Iraq were killed, the Pentagon said Friday in a written statement.

The aircraft crashed in western Iraq a day earlier, U.S. officials said.

The officials said seven service members were on board. They spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss details of the crash before they were made public.

The crash did not appear to be the result of enemy activity and is under investigation, the Pentagon said.

“This tragedy reminds us of the risks our men and women face every day in service of our nations. We are thinking of the loved ones of these service members today,” said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jonathan Braga, director of operations in the fight against Islamic State.

The helicopter was used by the Air Force for combat search and rescue, and was in transit when it went down Thursday near the town of Qaim in Anbar Province.

The Pentagon said an accompanying U.S. helicopter reported the crash and a quick-reaction force comprised of Iraqi security forces and Coalition members secured the scene.

The names of those killed will be released after next of kin have been notified, the statement added.

New York City officials announced Friday that two of those killed were longtime members of the city’s Fire Department — Lt. Christopher Raguso and fire marshal Christopher “Tripp” Zanetis. They were “truly two of New York City’s bravest,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

President Donald Trump offered his thoughts and prayers Friday for the families of service members killed, tweeting Friday that he was thinking of the “brave troops,” and adding that “their sacrifice in service to our country will never be forgotten.”

The U.S.-led coalition battling the Islamic State, also called ISIS, in Iraq and Syria has an outpost in Qaim, which is located near the Syrian border. The antiISIS campaign accelerated through much of last year, as coalition and Iraqi forces battled to take back a string of cities and towns.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory over ISIS in Mosul in July.

In the following months, Iraqi forces retook a handful of other Islamic Stateheld towns including Tal Afar in August, Hawija in September and Qaim in October.

“We are thinking of the loved ones of these service members today.” — Brig. Gen. Jonathan Braga