Military helicopter crash in Damascus claimed by Syrian rebels

Rebels in Syria claim to have shot down the military helicopter that burst into flames and fell from the sky in the Syrian capital Damascus on Monday.

Amateur footage shows the aircraft catching fire and falling from the sky to Qabun, the neighbouring district of Jobar where the aircraft had allegedly been firing at people. 

The helicopter is thought to have been involved in violent clashes between government forces and rebels in the north-eastern areas of Damascus.

Footage posted by activists showed the helicopter burning and falling to the ground, and rebels celebrating by shouting “Allahu Akbar (God is greatest)” in the background.

The brutal clashes in the capital of Syria have been continuing for more than a week. On Sunday, government forces allegedly killed several hundred people in an attack on Darayya, a south-western suburb.

There has been a public outcry over these allegations and the rebels are therefore celebrating their victory against the government aircraft today, as they continue to struggle against President Bashar Assad’s regime.

State television confirmed that the helicopter had caught fire and fell down, however, the cause is yet to be confirmed.

Line Elise Svanevik