Syrian rebels said on Saturday that they had brought down a Russian warplane in an area of northern Syria that has seen heavy air strikes, and two rebel sources said they had captured the pilot who was badly injured.

A rebel source told Reuters the Sukhoi plane was shot down over Khan al-Subl town near the city of Saraqeb, close to a major highway that has come under fierce air attack and attempts to advance on the ground by the Syrian army and Iranian-backed militias.

Two rebel sources said the pilot was badly injured after escaping the crash by parachute.

A third rebel source said he was killed.

Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said rebel fractions had shot down a Sukhoi 25 and that the pilot had escaped the crash by parachute, before being captured.

There was no immediate comment from the Russian or Syrian armies.

Confirmed. Rebels shot down the 1st ever #Russia|n fighter jet in #Syria since 2015 (Su-25) in SE. #Idlib CS. Pilot (reportedly) located. Warplanes overflying. pic.twitter.com/HeQRbWz1NC

February 3, 2018