5 Special Operations soldiers killed in helicopter crash in the Mediterranean Sea

STUTTGART, Germany — Five U.S. service members were killed when their aircraft went down during a training mission in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, the U.S. military said Sunday.

The crash occurred during a routine air refueling operation on Friday evening, U.S. European Command said in a statement. Search and rescue efforts began immediately after the incident and involved U.S. aircraft and ships operating in the area, EUCOM said.

The troops were Army Special Operations soldiers flying aboard a MH-60 helicopter when it went down off the coast of Cyprus, the New York Times reported, citing unnamed U.S. officials.

In response to Israel’s war with Hamas, the Pentagon has dispatched teams from the Joint Special Operations Command, including the Army’s Delta Force and the Navy’s SEAL Team 6, to Cyprus, the Times reported. Their role is to be on alert in the event Americans need to be evacuated from the region.

The Times said that the helicopter crew members who died were aviators assigned to transport special operators for secret missions.

EUCOM said it was withholding the names of the troops until 24 hours after next of kin notifications have been completed.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the fallen,” EUCOM said. “An investigation into the crash is underway.”

Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin said in a statement Sunday that he and the Pentagon “mourn the tragic loss of five U.S. service members.”

“We will remember their service and their sacrifice,” he said.

In an earlier statement on Saturday, EUCOM emphasized that the mishap happened during training and that there wasn’t an indication of hostile activity.

The incident comes during a time of high tension in the Eastern Mediterranean, where the Pentagon has moved substantial forces in the aftermath of Israel’s war with Hamas. Just last week, two Navy aircraft carriers, involving some 11,000 U.S. personnel, launched aircraft and practiced missile defense during a three-day exercise in the area.

EUCOM did not identify the type of plane involved in the crash, but the KC-135 Stratotanker is the military’s main air refueling aircraft.

It wasn’t clear whether the air refueling exercise was related to carrier group activities in the region.

In addition to Navy warships, the U.S. has also moved an array of ground defenses into the Middle East in an effort to defend U.S. forces in the region and deter a wider war.

The hostilities in Gaza have had indirect repercussions for U.S. forces elsewhere.

Since mid-October, militant groups aligned with Iran have repeatedly targeted U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria, resulting in more than 50 American troops being injured, according to the Pentagon.

U.S. Sixth Fleet Conducts Bilateral, Dual-Carrier Operations in Eastern Mediterranean Sea

U.S. Navy press release

Sailors and naval aviators from the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Carrier Strike Group (CSG 12) and those of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) Carrier Strike Group (CSG 2) trained on high-value unit defense, ballistic missile defense, replenishments-at-sea, cross-deck flight operations, and maritime security operations.

They were joined by USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) – the U.S. Sixth Fleet Command and Control ship – and the Italian Navy frigates ITS Virginio Fasan (F 591) and ITS Carlo Margottini (F 592).

“Operating and training alongside each other demonstrates the U.S. Navy’s ability to seamlessly accomplish multiple missions, deter aggression and support our allies and partners,” said Rear Adm. Erik Eslich, Commander of CSG 12.

More than 11,000 U.S personnel participated in the three-day exercises.



The Italian ships Fasan and Margottini joined the two carrier strike groups to exercise NATO alliance integration. Fasan also participated in Composite Unit Training Exercise with the Eisenhower strike group earlier this year.



The ships of the Gerald R. Ford strike group have participated in multiple operations and exercises throughout the Sixth Fleet area of responsibility, including Sage Wolverine, Baltic Operations 2023, exercise Air Defender 2023, and NATO enhanced vigilance activity Neptune Strike, as well as operations with 17 countries in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations.

The Gerald R. Ford strike group is comprised of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 2, the Information Warfare Commander, and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60).

The ships of DESRON-2 are the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), and USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117).

The Dwight D. Eisenhower strike group is comprised of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN69), the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), the guided-missile destroyers USS Mason (DDG 87) and USS Gravely (DDG 107) of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 22, and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 with its nine squadrons.

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Austin Encouraged After Biden Secures China's Pledge to Resume Mil-to-Mil Talks

Austin welcomed the progress while in Jakarta, Indonesia – the final leg of his ninth official visit to the Indo-Pacific. The visit showcased the growing cooperation among the U.S. and its like-minded partners in the region.

"As you know, we had been open to meeting with [Chinese leaders] here in Jakarta, but we're encouraged by recent news from the White House on the planned resumption of military-to-military communications," Austin said.

"You've heard me say before that there is no substitute for consistent and substantive dialogue between senior leaders," he said. "So, we'll continue to seek practical discussions with [the Chinese] from a senior leader level to the working level."

The plan to resume military-to-military talks at senior levels, including between theater commanders, was one of several agreements reached during Biden's meeting with Xi on Wednesday in Woodside, Calif.

The two leaders also discussed the resumption of bilateral efforts to combat global illicit drug manufacturing and trafficking, including fentanyl. They also discussed the need to address the risks of advanced artificial intelligence systems and improve artificial intelligence safety.

Defense officials have repeatedly raised concerns over China's lack of communication with U.S. military leaders, noting that Beijing has consistently denied or ignored U.S. requests for defense engagements at multiple levels.

Those concerns have been amplified as U.S. officials observe increasingly provocative and risky behavior on the part of China's military.

Defense officials have noted a steep rise in risky and aggressive intercepts by China's military of U.S. aircraft operating in international airspace in accordance with international law.

According to the most recent China Military Power Report, the U.S. has documented more than 180 coercive and risky air intercepts against U.S. aircraft in the region between 2021 and 2023.

That is more risky intercepts in the past two years than in the past decade, according to the report.

Austin said today that, while it is too soon to tell whether China's pledge to resume military-to-military dialogue signals a broader intent to dial back provocations in the region, it is critical that the two countries maintain open lines of communication.

"I won't make any predictions about China's future behavior," Austin said. "What I will say is that we will continue to need the mechanism to manage crises and make sure we prevent things from spiraling out of control from time to time."

"That's even more important if activities in the region have increased – if unhelpful things like close intercepts ... have increased" he said. "[That's] all the more reason that senior leaders need to be able to talk to each other."

China's increasingly provocative behavior, however, has far from derailed U.S. engagement in the Indo-Pacific as evidenced by Austin's latest trip to the region.

Austin visited India, South Korea and Indonesia, where he engaged with counterparts throughout the region and continued what defense officials describe as historic momentum with allies and partners throughout the region.

While in India, Austin met with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh amid what Austin described as a "transformative period in U.S.-India relations" as the two countries expand their defense industrial cooperation and enhance interoperability between their militaries.

Those discussions culminated in a new agreement to move forward with the coproduction of armored infantry vehicles, the leaders announced, building upon progress highlighted this summer when the two countries announced they would partner in producing jet engines.

The countries also discussed steps to strengthen supply chain security and integrate the distribution of goods from U.S. and Indian firms, Austin said following today's talks.

While in South Korea, Austin held talks with South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik and Japanese Defense Minister Kihara Minoru.

Those discussions built upon the progress made in deepening the ties among the three countries at the August summit among President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at Camp David, Maryland.

Austin also participated alongside his South Korean counterpart in the 55th Security Consultative Meeting, an annual capstone event marking the long-standing U.S.-South Korean defense relationship.

This year's meeting built upon Biden and Yoon's commitment to further bolstering the U.S.-South Korean alliance amid growing nuclear threats posed by North Korea.

During the session, Austin and his South Korean counterpart shared their vision for the future of the alliance, which they recognize as a "staple for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific region and a stalwart protector of international norms."

Austin also participated in the inaugural United Nations Command defense ministers' meeting on his final day in South Korea.

In Indonesia, he attended the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus.

The summit includes representation from China, Russia, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand in addition to the 10 ASEAN member states and the U.S.

During the forum, Austin held bilateral discussions with his counterparts from the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.

The secretary also participated in an informal meeting with ASEAN counterparts where he detailed plans to implement the U.S.-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

That partnership includes the emerging leaders defense program and a new gender adviser initiative that the U.S. will support alongside ASEAN partners.

"A common thread across all of my engagements here in Indonesia, in the Republic of Korea and India, has been our shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific," Austin said. "We've heard our allies and partners express their support for this goal and we're working closely with our ASEAN friends to promote a regional order based on the rule of law, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity."

He added that the engagements mark a continuation of what has been "an historic year" of initiatives to advance defense and security cooperation throughout the region, adding that the U.S. will continue to make progress with like-minded partners throughout the region.

"We have been out in the region, throughout," Austin said. "Even though we're busy in Europe [and] we're busy in the Middle East, we're here in the Indo-Pacific."

"This is my ninth trip to the region as secretary of defense," he said. "I think that sends a powerful message and reassures our allies and partners."

JAKARTA: Asean Defence Ministers have called for the swift establishment of a humanitarian corridor to facilitate unimpeded delivery of aid to those affected by the conflict in Gaza.

They raised their growing concerns over the escalating situation in the Middle East during the 17th Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and 10th ADMM-plus meeting, according to the chairman’s statement.

Stressing the seriousness, the statement said member states also urged for immediate attention and constructive dialogue to address the ongoing conflict.

“The meeting supported the initiation of peace negotiations aimed at achieving a two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders in accordance with international law and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions,” the statement read, Bernama reported.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and his Asean counterparts met for a two-day meeting, chaired by Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, which concluded on Thursday.

The ministers also confirmed their support for the Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council Leaders’ statement on Gaza’s development and the Asean Foreign Ministers’ statement on the recent escalation of armed conflicts in the Middle East.The meeting called for an immediate, lasting humanitarian truce, prioritising civilian protection, including Asean nationals, and an unconditional release of hostages.

It urged the United Nations, especially the Security Council, to prevent conflict escalation and emphasise protecting civilians, especially Palestinians.