Mi-35 helicopter shot down by IS militants in Iraq – pilot and co-pilot dead

IS militants have shot down a Mi-35 helicopter of the Iraqi military between the towns of Beiji and al Senniyah in northern Iraq killing both the pilot and the co-pilot news.sky.com. Beiji, incidentally, which is located 130 miles north of Baghdad and is home to Iraq's biggest oil refinery.
The Islamic State extremist group had used a rocket launcher to shoot down the helicopter.
This shooting is seen by observers as a challenge to the air strikes because it reveals the ability of the insurgents to hit back against air operations by Iraqi authorities and the US-led coalition.
It seems the IS jihadists have taken control of large parts of western and northern Iraq in recent months once the government forces melted away in the onslaught and left behind US-made military equipment including tanks.
Incidentally, the IS have seized a number of refineries in Iraq and Syria which helps increase their revenues. The air strikes carried out by the US and its coalition, including Arab and European allies, are aimed at destroying these oil wells and refineries in order to counter the militant threat.
The aerial raids include several by RAF Tornado fighter jets over Iraq in recent days and Canada is also set to join the military campaign as indicated by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.