Warplane shot down in northern Syria - report

Syrian activist groups are reporting that militants have shot down a warplane in northern Syria.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says it isn’t clear whether the warplane that was downed on Tuesday is Russian or Syrian.

The Local Coordination Committees say it was downed near the northern village of al-Ais, and was Syrian. Both groups, which monitor the Syrian civil war, gave no word about the crew.

Russian warplanes have been carrying out airstrikes in Syria since September 30. Syrian militants have not downed any Russian planes. Neighboring Turkey, however, shot down one Russian aircraft last year.

Syrian rebels have shot down several Syrian warplanes since the country’s crisis began in March 2011.

— AP