ROME/ATHENS (REUTERS)

At least ​four people were reported killed when an Italian military helicopter with the EU peacekeeping mission ⁠in Bosnia and Herzegovina crashed on Thursday, ​ANSA news agency reported.

Another ​12 ‌people were injured ⁠when ​the helicopter came down in the village of Gorice in Brcko district, the mayor of Brcko was ‌quoted as saying by the agency.

Images ‌carried by local media showed a military transport helicopter overturned on ​the ground and shattered into pieces.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her condolences, writing on X: "My thoughts are with the victims, their ‌families, and all ​those who, as part of the mission to promote peace and stability in the region."

An ​official from ‌the ⁠EUFOR ‌mission confirmed the ‌crash, but did not give details on the number ⁠of casualties.

The aircraft had been ​deployed as part of Operation Althea, run by EUFOR, which oversees the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement.