Syrian Helicopter Crashes on Outskirts of Damascus

Rebels Claim Credit for Shoot-Down

by Jason Ditz, August 27, 2012

A Syrian military helicopter crashed and burned on the outskirts of the capital city of Damascus today, according to a video released by a rebel faction. The rebels claim that they shot down the helicopter.

Rebel spokesmen claimed that the helicopter was shot down by the Free Syrian Army’s “Badr Brigade,” and that it was revenge for the weekend death toll in the Damascus suburb of Daraya.

Rebels have claimed shoot-downs in the past but they’ve never been confirmed. It is unclear what sort of weapon was used to down the helicopter, though speculation was that they may have acquired anti-aircraft guns in recent raids on government bases.

Though Saudi Arabia and other nations have been eager to pump weaponry into the rebel factions, reports are that they have been reluctant to provide anti-aircraft weaponry, fearing they would be used against passenger planes and military planes alike.

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