Russian Warplane Downed by Syrian Rebels, Pilot Killed

Russia’s Defense Ministry says one of its Su-25 warplanes was downed in Syria’s Idlib province on Saturday, and the pilot was killed in a “fight with terrorists.” The Su-25 was providing air support to pro-Assad Syrian forces advancing on the rebel-held town of Saraqeb when it was shot down in the de-escalation zone. The ministry said the pilot had initially ejected by parachute after Syrian rebels downed the jet using a MANPAD portable surface-to-air missile. “The pilot had enough time to announce he had ejected into the zone under the control of al-Nusra Front fighters,” the ministry’s statement said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the pilot was killed while he resisted capture by rebels. Russian forces carried out retaliatory strikes in the area, killing dozens of militants, according to the country’s defense ministry.