MOSCOW (Dispatches) – Russia has confirmed that a Russian military helicopter earlier crashed in northwestern Syria, killing two pilots and injuring a technician.
Russia’s Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday that a Russian Mi-24 helicopter carrying three personnel had crashed over Hama Province on December 31.
The copter was making a hard landing 15 kilometers from the Hama airfield in the province’s capital of the same name when it crashed, the ministry said. It cited a technical fault as the cause of the crash, dismissing some reports that the aircraft had been fired at.
The technician injured in the crash was transported to Khmeimim Airbase. The base, one of the two run on a permanent basis by Russia in Syria, is located in the province of Latakia, which neighbors Hama.
Russia has been carrying out an aerial bombardment campaign against extremist militants in Syria at Damascus’ request since September 2015.  
Meanwhile, the Syrian army, backed by the Russian air force, is preparing for a major operation as part of a new push to rid the terrorists of their last stronghold on the eastern outskirts of the capital, Damascus.
The push zooms in on Harasta District in Eastern Ghouta, where terrorists with the Ahrar al-Sham outfit have gone on rampage over the past days.
Reuters reported Wednesday that Syrian forces are set to conduct a swoop there on the Military Vehicles Administration Army base, which has been besieged by the terrorists.
The report quoted locals and witnesses as saying that the army is amassing elite forces in preparation for the offensive against the militant siege.
At least 200 Syrian troops are believed to be trapped within the premises.
Damascus-based Sama TV television network said combined Syrian military operations and Russian aerial backup had killed more than 200 gunmen in the area.