A group of Syrian rebels that received TOW missiles from the US destroyed a Russian rescue helicopter Tuesday, not long after Turkish fighters shot down a Russian Su-24, reported Reuters. Russian military leaders said one of two Mi-8 search and rescue helicopters was forced down by small arms fire and destroyed by mortars, and one marine was killed, according to a Russian release. However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told reporters the fighters used a TOW missile to force the helicopter to land, then hit it again with a second missile, reported USA Today. The observatory said everyone on the helicopter was evacuated safely.
KC-46’s Refueling Boom Damaged While Refueling F-22s
July 8, 2025
A U.S. Air Force KC-46 tanker suffered damage to its boom while refueling F-22 Raptors off the coast of Virginia on July 8, Air & Space Forces Magazine has confirmed, with reported radio communication from the crew indicating the boom “detached.”