Russian warplane shot down by Syrian rebels

During a fierce fight with the forces of President Bashar al-Assad and his foreign backers, a Russian fighter jet was shot down by Syrian rebels in northern Syria's Idlib province.

The pilot of the warplane Su-25 was later killed on the ground by the rebels, said the Russian defence ministry.

Initial reports said that a portable ground-to-air missile was used to hit the plane in an area under the control of al-Qaida's Syrian link, the Guardian cited the Ministry as saying.

Although the rebels wanted to capture the pilot alive, he was shot when he opened fire at them.

The pilot has not been identified yet.

Russia has lost four warplanes, four helicopters and about 50 servicemen in the conflict, local media said.