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Syrian army says helicopter crashes over technical problem in country's north, killing crew

Associated Press
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Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah delivers a speech shown on a screen during a rally commemorating "Liberation Day," which marks the withdrawal of the Israeli army from southern Lebanon in 2000, in the southern town of Nabatiyeh, Lebanon, Sunday, May 24, 2015. Nasrallah said Sunday that the region is facing "unprecedented danger" from extremist groups and vowed his militants will expand their involvement in Syria’s civil war in support of government forces.  (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari) (The Associated Press)

A Hezbollah fighter waves its flag as other fighters stand guard during a rally commemorating "Liberation Day," which marks the withdrawal of the Israeli army from southern Lebanon in 2000, in the southern town of Nabatiyeh, Lebanon, Sunday, May 24, 2015. Nasrallah said Sunday that the region is facing "unprecedented danger" from extremist groups and vowed his militants will expand their involvement in Syria’s civil war in support of government forces.  (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari) (The Associated Press)

Hezbollah fighters stand guard during a rally commemorating "Liberation Day," which marks the withdrawal of the Israeli army from southern Lebanon in 2000, in the southern town of Nabatiyeh, Lebanon, Sunday, May 24, 2015. Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the militant Hezbollah group, said Sunday that the region is facing "unprecedented danger" from extremist groups and vowed his militants will expand their involvement in Syria’s civil war in support of government forces. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari) (The Associated Press)

Syrian state TV says a military helicopter has crashed at the northern air base of Kweiras, killing all its crew.

The TV report quoted an unnamed military official as saying that the helicopter crashed Sunday as a result of a technical problem while taking off.

The report did not say how many crew members were on abroad at the time of the crash.

Kweiras military air base is in the northern province of Aleppo and is close to the town of al-Bab that is held by the Islamic State group.

Syrian rebels have shot down helicopters in the past.