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 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Syria crisis: Rebels 'shoot down' warplane | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Syrian rebels have produced footage of a man they claim is the captured pilot of a fighter jet that went down in the east of the country. | |
| The rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) say they shot a military aircraft down near the Iraqi border. | |
| But state media say the plane crashed because of "technical problems" and a search is under way to find the pilot. | |
| Government forces have continued their advance in Aleppo, with reports of clashes in the west of the city. | |
| According to Syria's state-run news agency Sana, the plane that went down had suffered a fault with its "control mechanisms" during a routine training mission, forcing the pilot to abandon the aircraft. | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |
| The aircraft was shot down near the town of al-Muhassan, around 120km (75 miles) from the Iraqi border in Deir al-Zour province, the rebels say. | |
| The FSA says that one of the two-man crew died and that another has been captured. | The FSA says that one of the two-man crew died and that another has been captured. |
| A group calling itself the "Revolutionary Youth of the Land of the Euphrates" uploaded a video to YouTube purporting to show the captured pilot surrounded by three armed rebels, saying that his mission was to "bomb the town of al-Muhassan". | A group calling itself the "Revolutionary Youth of the Land of the Euphrates" uploaded a video to YouTube purporting to show the captured pilot surrounded by three armed rebels, saying that his mission was to "bomb the town of al-Muhassan". |
| In the video, which cannot be independently verified, the seemingly middle-aged man identifies himself as a pilot, Col Fareer Mohammad Suleiman. He appears to have minor bruising to his face which he attributes to the plane crash. | |
| Air power threat | Air power threat |
| In other footage provided by the rebels, what appears to be a Russian-built MiG-23 fighter jet is shown carrying two under-wing weapons pods thought to be loaded with air-to-ground missiles. | |
| Anti-aircraft fire can be heard before the jet bursts into flames. | |
| Rebel gunners are then heard on the footage celebrating. | Rebel gunners are then heard on the footage celebrating. |
| The BBC's Kevin Connolly, in neighbouring Lebanon, says that if the rebels have succeeded in downing a MiG-23, it would be a significant moment in the conflict. | |
| Reports have emerged recently of anti-aircraft weapons reaching rebels in Syria. | 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-air missile system. This would pose a potential threat to the regime's air power, correspondents say. | Earlier this week, photos were posted online by rebels showing them with a full surface-to-air missile system. This would pose a potential threat to the regime's air power, correspondents say. |
| Meanwhile, activists say government forces have begun a new advance against rebels in Aleppo, Syria's largest city. Aleppo has seen fierce clashes between the two sides in recent weeks. | |
| Government forces entered the Saif al-Dawla neighbourhood with tanks and armoured vehicles, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. | Government forces entered the Saif al-Dawla neighbourhood with tanks and armoured vehicles, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. |
| The strategic northern district of Salah al-Din had been coming under bombardment since the morning, the Observatory said. | The strategic northern district of Salah al-Din had been coming under bombardment since the morning, the Observatory said. |
| State media also said Syrian armed forces in central Homs province had killed a large number of "mercenary terrorists". | |
| Are you in Syria? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | 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. | 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 | Read the terms and conditions |