"(Reuters) - Rebel fighters trying to oust President Bashar al-Assad shot down a
fighter jet as it flew over the northern Syrian town of Atarib in Idlib
province, a witness said.
The witness, an independent journalist who asked to remain anonymous, said
rebel fighters were attacking a military base near the town when the jet flew
over and rebels shot it down with anti-aircraft guns.
Vastly outgunned, rebels say they need surface-to-air missiles to take down
planes and helicopters used by the Syrian military to bombard opposition
strongholds.
Fighters use outdated anti-aircraft machine guns that are welded to pickup
trucks but they are inaccurate and useless if the military aircraft fly above a
certain altitude.
On August 27 fighters shot down a helicopter on the outskirts of Damascus and
three days later rebels said they had brought down a jet in Idlib, near the
Turkish border....."
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