TAMPA (Florida) May 20: Five US Marines died after a helicopter crashed into a canal in Iraq, the United States Central Command confirmed on Tuesday.

The helicopter with a crew of four crashed shortly after take-off at 4pm on Monday in the Shat Al Hillah Canal.

Two Marines on the bank of the canal entered the water to try to rescue the crew but one drowned bringing the total death toll to five. The helicopter was conducting a re-supply mission in support of civil military operations.

A recovery effort is underway and dive teams are en-route to the site. An investigation has been launched.—dpa

Opinion

Editorial

Doctor attacked
09 Jun, 2026

Doctor attacked

AN act of reprehensible violence has shaken the medical community. On Saturday, an employee of the Provincial Civil...
AJK flare-up
Updated 09 Jun, 2026

AJK flare-up

The situation started deteriorating after a trader affiliated with the JAAC was reportedly shot in an altercation with law-enforcers.
Fault lines
09 Jun, 2026

Fault lines

THE April 8 ceasefire that halted hostilities between Israel and Iran has encountered its most serious test yet....
Soft on traders
08 Jun, 2026

Soft on traders

THE Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme for traders with an annual turnover of up to Rs200m has been designed as a ‘pragmatic...
Ceasefire in name
Updated 08 Jun, 2026

Ceasefire in name

Both sides accuse the other of violating the truce that was supposed to halt the conflict in April, yet neither appears willing to abandon negotiations altogether.
Damaged childhoods
08 Jun, 2026

Damaged childhoods

CHILD abuse is so prevalent that the UN ranked Pakistan as the least safe country for children. Even so, more than...