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US helicopter crash in western Iraq causes fatalities: Official

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US helicopter crash in western Iraq causes fatalities: Official

U.S. Air Force, FILE
An HH-60 Pave Hawk on the flightline at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Feb. 13, 2017.

    An American HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter has crashed in western Iraq on Thursday and at least some aboard were killed, according to a U.S. official.

    The official said the aircraft went down near al Qaim in western Anbar Province.

    A separate official told ABC News there were seven people on board the helicopter. All were U.S. Air Force airmen, ABC News confirmed.

    There was no sign of hostile fire, that official said, but it is not being ruled out at this time.

    It's believed to be the first fatal helicopter crash in Iraq since the U.S. began fighting ISIS there in 2014.

    PHOTO: An HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter assigned to the 56th Rescue Squadron flies over Aviano Air Base, Italy, during a routine training mission Jan. 26, 2018.U.S. Air Force, FILE
    An HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter assigned to the 56th Rescue Squadron flies over Aviano Air Base, Italy, during a routine training mission Jan. 26, 2018.

    In a statement, the anti-ISIS coalition, officially known as Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, said: "A U.S. military aircraft has crashed in western Iraq with U.S. service members aboard. Rescue teams are responding to the scene of the downed aircraft at this time. Further details will be released when available. An investigation will be initiated to determine the cause of the incident."

    The incident occurs as the U.S. is shifting personnel and resources out of Iraq and into Afghanistan, as the war against ISIS in Iraq has wound down in recent months.

    Two Americans have lost their lives in Iraq this year in non-combat related incidents.

    There are approximately 5,262 U.S. service members in Iraq, according to the Pentagon.

    ABC News' Stephanie Ramos and Steve Turnham contributed to this report.

    This is a breaking news story. Please refresh for developments.

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    Source – abcnews.go.com

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