Daesh militants have shot down an army aircraft near an important military airport in the south of Syria, according to AFP.

Pro-Daesh (ISIS) Twitter accounts said the terrorist group had taken the army pilot hostage, activists said.

The plane was shot down near to Khalkhalah air base in Sweida province, which is a stronghold of the Druze minority community.

The Syrian Observatory said it was unknown what happened to any crew members, although pro-Daesh social media accounts said that the pilot had been captured.