Military helicopter crash kills three in southern Tunisia

A military helicopter crashed in Tunisia on Tuesday night killing three soldiers, the country's Ministry of Defence has announced.

The aircraft crashed in southern Tunisia’s El-Hamma region during an overnight exercise, according to a statement released by the ministry’s official spokesman, Mohamed Zakri.

The statement said a military technical team was sent to the area to determine the cause of the crash, without giving any further details about the accident.

Tunisian President Kais Saied last year called for funding to better equip the army and renew its fleet of military aircraft.

Last year, the US State Department approved the sale of four AT-6C Wolverine light attack fighters with support equipment to Tunisia, worth $325.8 million.

Similar arms deals were made with the US and Sweden n 2014 and 2019.