Syrian jet shot down, pilot taken by rebel forces in Aleppo

ALEPPO, Syria, April 5 (UPI) -- A jet reportedly belonging to the Syrian Army was shot down during ongoing clashes with Islamic rebel fighters in Syria.

The pilot, whom state media said had ejected from what may have been a Russian-built Su-22 warplane near Aleppo before its crash, is assumed alive and in the hands of rebels, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Unverified social media posts show images of the plane's crash, its wreckage and clip of the apparent pilot being overwhelmed by rebels.

The location of the fallen jet is near where al-Nusra Front rebels have been heavy-hit by Syrian and Russian air raids, reports noted.

The jet crash occurred shortly after Syrian forces successfully regained control over the historic cities of al-Qaryatain and Palmyra after Islamic State (also known as ISIS, ISIL and Daesh) forces were driven out. Russian airstrikes reportedly aided in the effort against Islamic State, or Daesh rebels.

A mass burial site was uncovered after the Syrian military retook Palmyra last week. About 40 bodies -- many women and children -- were found in the grave.