Horrific footage has emerged of the moment an Islamist rebel fighter and his Syrian activist cameraman were killed by a Syrian Arab Army artillery shell in northern Hama, Syria.

The horrific 40-second video begins with a bearded fighter, believed to be fighting with the Islamist allied Ajnad al-Sham, describing his joy at capturing Tal Sukayk in the Hama countryside.

Just a short while after he begins talking, an artillery shell fatally crashes down directly on to the fighter and his cameraman, who is named as Ahmed Abu Hamza.

Final moments: The unnamed fighter gives a short speech just before the shell hits their position

Dead: The two men are fatally wounded when a Syrian Arab Army shell hits their position in northern Hama

'Thank God, it turned out to be easier than we thought despite the fact that this position was very important,' says the fighter, who looks around as he talks to the camera.

Behind him there appears to be a small bunker constructed out of sandbags and tarpaulin, suggesting the pair are possibly on the edge of the front-line.

Within seconds of completing his sentence, the shell hits their position, causing a brief flash of flames and a cloud of smoke.

As the dust subsides, the camera appears to still be operating with the agonising screams of the two dying men clearly audible.

Behind the fighter, there appears to be a small bunker constructed out of sandbags and tarpaulin, suggesting the pair are possibly on the edge of the front-line

Horrific: The shell directly hits the men just as he finished making his speech to the camera

According to his social media profile, media activist Ahmed Abu Hamza was from Hama and had been employed at the University of Damascus

Sudden: The footage was posted on social media on November 7 and has since attracted considerable attention with many people commenting on the sudden nature of the attack

Shocking: Screaming can be heard at the end of the video after the shell hit the men's position

The bearded fighter is believed to have been part of the Islamist group Ajnad al-Sham, which makes up a three faction alliance with Al-Qaeda affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra and Ahrar al-Sham.

Known as Jund al Malahim, one of the alliance's main focus is to fight the Assad regime and Russian forces.

According to his social media profile, media activist Ahmed Abu Hamza was from Hama and had been employed at the University of Damascus.

His friends paid tribute to him on his Facebook page, praising his bravery and 'beautiful smile.'

His account shows various pieces of frontline footage he had filmed as well as several graphic images of severed heads and dead bodies.

Some initials reports had wrongly claimed the men were fighting for ISIS and that they had been killed in a French mortar round.

The footage was posted on social media on November 7 and has since attracted considerable attention with many people commenting on the sudden nature of the attack.

According to his social media profile, media activist Ahmed Abu Hamza (pictured) was from Hama and had been employed at the University of Damascus