Sources: 8 peacekeepers died in a helicopter accident

Informed sources said Thursday that a helicopter carrying a US-led peacekeeping force crashed near the island of Tiran, killing 8 members of the force.

A statement from the international peacekeepers read: “The victims are 6 Americans, a Czech and a French.”

The multinational force’s mission office and observers in Israel confirmed to “Reuters” the helicopter crash, but declined to add further comment until an investigation is carried out.

Later, the Israeli military announced that it had airlifted a US soldier from the international observation force to a hospital in Israel for treatment.

He added: “The Air Force Special Rescue Unit team transferred a US soldier from the International Observation Force to a hospital in Israel for treatment.”

“I send my deepest condolences to the families of the dead and wish a speedy recovery to all those injured,” said Israel’s Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi.

He stressed that “the contribution of the multinational force and observers to maintain security and stability in the region is very important, and I would like to express my gratitude to the countries that contribute to security and peace between Israel and Egypt.”

The multinational force and monitors were established to oversee the disarmament process in the Sinai under the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel in 1979.

The multinational force includes observers, according to its website, 1,154 military personnel from the United States and 12 other countries, and its tasks include an area of ​​more than 10,000 square kilometers in the Sinai. About 452 of the military are American.