Feb 10 β€’ 05:55 UTC πŸ‡ΆπŸ‡¦ Qatar Al Jazeera

Five killed in helicopter crash at a military base in southern Libya

Five people, including two foreigners, died in a helicopter crash at the Al-Sarrah military base in southeastern Libya.

On Tuesday, a tragic accident at the Al-Sarrah military base in southeastern Libya resulted in the deaths of five individuals, including two foreign crew members. Reports indicate that the helicopter, which was an air ambulance, was on a mission to transport an injured soldier following a traffic accident but crashed within the military base itself. Local sources from the city of Kufra confirmed the incident and identified two soldiers from the Libyan National Army as part of the casualties, along with a nurse and the two foreign crew members, whose nationalities and missions remain unverified.

Social media platforms have been flooded with images and videos showing the helicopter engulfed in flames following the crash, highlighting the incident's severity and the urgent response required at the military facility. The Al-Sarrah base is strategically located near the border triangle of Libya, Sudan, and Chad, underscoring its importance for border monitoring operations amid ongoing tensions with neighboring countries. The area surrounding the base has been identified as a 'hot zone' due to unstable security conditions in the region, particularly with the presence of Chadian opposition groups active along the border.

The crash takes place against the backdrop of Libya's complex political landscape, where two rival governments are competing for control, notably the Government of National Unity led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh. This incident raises concerns about the country's ongoing security issues and the safety protocols in place for conducting air medical services, particularly in regions deemed volatile and conflict-prone.

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