Syrian rebels have claimed they shot down a government warplane over the weekend.

Amateur footage shows rebels standing in back of trucks and shooting at jets whizzing across the sky above them.

But their anti-aircraft guns are old and they say they need surface-to-air missiles to take down planes and helicopters used by the Syrian military to bombard their strongholds.

Nevertheless, they claim their pot shots have not been completely without success.

"God helped us and we brought down a Mig warplane. So many groups took part in the attack. Most of the brigades in the area participated in this operation,'' said one rebel fighter.

In the same video, rebels also appear to have surrounded a military building near the town of Awrem, which is said to be loyal to the Syrian regime.

Activist video uploaded to a social media website, which Reuters is unable to independently verify, purports to show an attack on the headquarters of Regiment 46 near Atarib on the outskirts of Aleppo.