A Lebanese army airman died Thursday when a military helicopter he was flying over Sojod hills in south Lebanon came under gunfire attack from unidentified gunmen. "One officer was killed and several crew members wounded," a security official told AFP.

Another security official said that the helicopter was conducting a training mission over the southern village of Sojod when it came under fire and was forced to make an emergency landing. The origin of the fire was not immediately known.

A Lebanese army communiqué confirmed a military helicopter came under gunfire attack by armed members, forcing it to make an emergency landing in Iqlim al-Tuffah. It says 1st Lt. Samer Hanna was killed in the attack.

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