Five US troops die in training aircrash in eastern Mediterranean

Five American service members lost their lives in a helicopter crash in the eastern Mediterranean during a routine training exercise, according to the US military. The incident occurred during refueling. President Joe Biden expressed condolences, acknowledging the sacrifice of service members in the line of duty. The military statement did not specify the location of the crash or the departure point of the aircraft. The victims were identified as Chief Warrant Officer Stephen Dwyer, Chief Warrant Officer Shane Barnes, Staff Sgt Tanner Grone, Sgt Andrew Southard, and Sgt Cade Wolfe. The US has recently bolstered its presence in the region due to increased tensions stemming from the conflict between Israel and Hamas. This deployment aims to address concerns about potential regional escalation, particularly involving Hezbollah in Lebanon, supported by Iran, which also backs Hamas. The move includes the deployment of two aircraft carriers, ships, and jets to the eastern Mediterranean.