Fighters from the Islamic State extremist group have used a rocket launcher to shoot down an Iraqi military helicopter, say officials.
The pilot and co-pilot of the Mi-35 aircraft were reportedly killed in the attack which happened between the towns of Beiji and al Senniyah in northern Iraq.
The shooting down of the helicopter showed the insurgents' ability to hit back against air operations by Iraqi authorities and the US-led coalition.
The IS jihadists have taken over large parts of western and northern Iraq in recent months after government forces melted away in the onslaught and left behind US-made military equipment including tanks.
Beiji, which is 130 miles north of Baghdad, is home to Iraq's biggest oil refinery.
IS have seized several refineries in Iraq and Syria which helps increase their revenues.
The US and its coalition, including Arab and European allies, have carried out dozens of airstrikes against IS targets in the two countries to try to counter the militant threat.
The aerial raids include several by RAF Tornado fighter jets over Iraq in recent days after parliament backed action from the air a week ago.
Canada is set to join the military campaign following an announcement by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
He said his country's jets would take part in the airstrikes for up to six months and also planned to send a refuelling aircraft and two surveillance planes, subject to MPs' approval.
But he said Canada would not deploy ground troops.
Meanwhile, IS fighters retreating from an attack by pro-government forces have blown up an important bridge in the Salaheddin province of the country, according to officials.
Iraqi troops, Kurdish peshmerga forces and Shia militias have been pushing west from the city of Tuz Khurmatu since Thursday.
An official said the forces attacked several areas from Tuz Khurmatu towards Tikrit and reached Zerga bridge - a strategic link between the two - before it was destroyed by IS.
Tikrit, the home town of former president Saddam Hussein, has been under IS control since the jihadists launched their major offensive in Iraq four months ago.
The Iraqi army has tried and failed to recapture it several times.
Military planes reportedly carried out strikes on IS targets north of Tuz Khurmatu, near Taza, on Friday, and at least 16 jihadist were killed.
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