Special to WorldTribune.com

NICOSIA — Sunni rebels have claimed the downing of another Syrian
Army helicopter.

The opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the helicopter
was struck by rebel fire during operations over Damascus on Aug. 27. The
aircraft appeared to be a Russian-origin Mi-24 attack helicopter.

“The crash took place during fighting in the Damascus neighborhood of Jobar,” the London-based observatory said.

The regime of President Bashar Assad confirmed the helicopter crash. But Syria’s official media provided no details.

The opposition posted a video of the crash. The video showed the Mi-24 on fire before it fell.

In July, rebels claimed they downed a helicopter over Damascus. Later, Western diplomatic sources said a Syrian Army Mi-8 utility helicopter was struck by light weapons fire and forced to land.

The Free Syrian Army has provided conflicting reports on whether it
had acquired surface-to-air missiles. In July and August, FSA spokespeople said the rebel force acquired both SA-7 and Stinger missiles. But on Aug. 26, FSA deputy commander Malik Al Kurdi said the rebels were using machine guns against Syrian fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft.

“The Free Syrian Army only has machine guns and anti-aircraft guns,” Al
Kurdi said. “It doesn’t have any other kind of anti-aircraft weapon. We’re
using these anti-aircraft guns to force their planes to fly higher so they
can’t hit their targets so accurately.”

The rebels said Assad expanded operations by the Syrian Air Force
over the last two months. The rebels said the air force has begun deployment
of the Su-24 fighter-bomber.

  Bashar Assad, fighting in Damascus, Free Syrian Army, Rebel video captures downing of Syrian Mi-24 helicopter, Stinger missiles, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights