Amateur video obtained by Reuters purports to show a Syrian military helicopter being shot down earlier today.

The video, said to be shot in the Syrian city of Idlib, shows the helicopter spiralling downwards with smoke coming from the engines before it explodes in a ball of flames.

In recent days it has appeared that Syrian rebels have acquired heavy weapons that have forced the government's air force to bomb rebel-held zones from higher altitude, leading to claims of more indiscriminate bombing.