5 Iraqi fighter pilots die in helicopter crash

An Iraqi army helicopter on Thursday crashed, killing all five pilots on board, the military said.

The helicopter was said to have crashed in the northern province of Kirkuk, some 350 kilometres north of the capital Baghdad, while on a combat mission, the military-linked Security Media Cell said, without elaborating.

The cause of the crash was not given.

In December 2017, Iraq had declared victory against the militant Islamic State group, having recaptured all the territories seized by the extremists since 2014.

However, members of the terror group have continued to carry out isolated attacks across the country.