A Syrian military helicopter caught fire and crashed Monday, Aug 27, after it was apparently hit during fighting between government forces and rebels in the capital Damascus, an activist group said.
According to The Associated Press, state-run media confirmed the crash in Damascus but gave no details. A video posted on the Internet showed the chopper engulfed in flames shortly before it hit the ground.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which reported the crash, said there was intense fighting between troops backed by helicopter gunships and rebels in the western Damascus neighborhood of Jobar. State media said the chopper crashed in al-Qaboun district, which is close to Jobar.
The Syrian conflict began 17 months ago with mostly peaceful protests demanding that President Bashar al-Assad step down, but it has since morphed into a civil war. Rights activists say at least 20,000 people have so far been killed.
