Fighters from the Free Syrian Army ride armoured pick up.

:: Syria’s armed forces have said a military jet was downed by insurgents in northern Hama province on Tuesday and the pilot killed, state television said.

Several sources on social media have identified the pilot killed on Tuesday as Capt. Bassem Ghosn from the western Homs countryside.

The western central province has seen intense aerial strikes by the Russian and Syrian air forces in the country’s civil war.

Dozens of civilians have been killed in the bombing of towns away from front lines in the last few weeks, according to rescue workers and witnesses.

The advancing of the Syrian regime means Iran is getting closer, something Israel has warned of, which has threatened to open a battle on its borders with Syria and Lebanon more than once.

The Syrian army said it cordoned off the town of Maghar al-Mir at the slopes of Mount Hermon as army troops advanced towards Beit Jinn amid violent clashes.

The Syrian army said on Monday it had cut off supply lines to the opposition and made further progress.