This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19246708#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Syria crisis: Fighter jet crashes near Iraq border | Syria crisis: Fighter jet crashes near Iraq border |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A fighter jet has crashed in eastern Syria owing to "technical problems", according to state media. | A fighter jet has crashed in eastern Syria owing to "technical problems", according to state media. |
| The rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) say they shot a military aircraft down in the same area, near the Iraq border. | |
| Experts who examined footage from the FSA of the downed plane say its camouflage and markings are consistent with those of a Syrian air force plane. | Experts who examined footage from the FSA of the downed plane say its camouflage and markings are consistent with those of a Syrian air force plane. |
| The pilot ejected and a search is now under way to find him, according to state media. | The pilot ejected and a search is now under way to find him, according to state media. |
| The plane had been on a "routine training mission", according to state-run news agency Sana. | The plane had been on a "routine training mission", according to state-run news agency Sana. |
| The aircraft shown in the video is a MiG-23 ground attack aircraft, a type first delivered to Syria by the Soviet Union in 1973. In the current fighting, the jets are reported to have been used in July in the bombing of targets in and around Aleppo. It is not clear from the video exactly what brought the aircraft down. | |
| However, if it was lost due to hostile action, this would be a first, indicating that the rebels do have a basic anti-aircraft capability. The government's air power has not been a decisive factor in this conflict so far. But the loss of the aircraft gives the rebels an important propaganda victory. | |
| It suffered a fault with its "control mechanisms", forcing the pilot to abandon the aircraft, Sana reported. | |
| The FSA says that one of the two-man crew died and that another has been captured, but has given no evidence of this. | |
| Footage | Footage |
| The aircraft was shot down near the town of al-Muhassan, around 120km (75 miles) from the Iraqi border, according to the rebels. | The aircraft was shot down near the town of al-Muhassan, around 120km (75 miles) from the Iraqi border, according to the rebels. |
| Footage provided by the rebels shows what appears to be a Russian-built MiG-23 fighter jet carrying two under-wing weapons pods thought to be loaded with air-to-ground missiles. | |
| Anti-aircraft can be heard before the jet bursts into flames. | |
| Rebel gunners are then heard on the footage celebrating. | |
| Reports have emerged recently of anti-aircraft weapons reaching rebels in Syria. | |
| Earlier this week, photos were posted online by rebels showing them with a full surface-to-area missile system. This would pose a potential threat to the regime's air power, correspondents say. | |
| Are you in Syria? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | |
| Read the terms and conditions |