An SAS team was saved after a brave military dog fought off a jihadi who attacked a patrol in northern Syria.

The unnamed Belgian Malinois, a fierce breed of sheepdog known for its bravery, had been out on a routine patrol with a team of six crack soldiers from the SAS.

They had just entered a small village in a convoy of armoured vehicles when they got out to continue the recce on foot.

But soon after they left the safety of the convoy, they were attacked on all sides by waiting jihadis in what was described as a '360 degree ambush'.

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The team had been on patrol with a Belgian Malinois (pictured), a breed known for their bravery [file photo]

The SAS men returned fire but the jihadis began closing in and tried to outflank them.

The animal was said to have leapt to the defence of the struggling British soldiers, tearing the throat of on gunman who was firing at the patrol.

It then turned on two other jihadis, leaving them seriously injured before the other six ambushers all fled.

A source told the Daily Star: 'The SAS found themselves in a 360-degree ambush.

'The initiative was with the terrorists and the only hope for the British was to try and make a run for it.

'The handler removed the dog's muzzle and directed him into a building from where they were coming under fire.

'They could hear screaming and shouting before the firing from the house stopped.

The small SAS troupe had been out on a routine patrol in a small village in northern Syria [file photo]

'When the team entered the building they saw the dog standing over a dead gunman.

The incident was said to have taken place two months ago, but details of the dog's bravery can only be made public now for security reasons.

'His throat had been torn out and he had bled to death,' the source continued, 'There was also a lump of human flesh in one corner and a series of blood trails leading out of the back of the building.

'The dog was virtually uninjured. The SAS were able to consolidate their defensive position and eventually break away from the battle without taking any casualties.'

The SAS commander in charge of the patrol credited the dog with directly saving the lives of all six of the men.