The Syrian military said on Tuesday that one of its jets crashed in southern Syria, state television reported, hours after Western-backed rebels said they had shot it down and captured the pilot.
State-owned Ikhbariya television quoted a Syrian army source as saying an investigation was underway to determine what caused the crash. It did not mention the fate of the pilot.
Rebels released photos of a pilot they identified as Maj. Ali al Hilwa, with bruises on his face, and the wreckage of a jet they said was a Russian-built MiG brought down by anti-aircraft guns.