Rebels claim shooting down Syrian fighter plane

AMMAN: Syrian rebels said they shot down a Syrian fighter plane on Thursday in the northwestern province of Idlib near the Turkish border.

The Syrian Martyrs Brigade said in a statement the plane was brought down near the town of al-Thayabiya. Video footage on al-Arabiya television showed what appeared to be smoke in the sky and a person parachuting down.

An army helicopter hovered over the area, apparently in search of the pilot.