ISTANBUL

The United Arab Emirates said Monday that two soldiers were killed in a helicopter crash.

A Defense Ministry statement two members of the country’s armed forces died “while performing their national duty.”

It cited a technical malfunction for the crash, without giving any further details.

Regional escalation flared up since Israel and the US launched a joint attack on Iran, killing more than 1,200 people, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Tehran retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries that are home to US military assets.