VIDEO: Have Syrian rebels downed a Russian jet over Eastern Ghouta?

A video, apparently showing a man parachuting over Eastern Ghouta outside of Damascus, has appeared online sparking debate about whether a Syrian government plane has been shot down by rebels. 

The footage was posted online on Monday by the Qasioun opposition website. It could not be independently verified, but opposition sites are claiming that it shows a pilot after he ejects from a downed plane and wrestles with a possibly faulty parachute on his way down. 

Some anti-government social media accounts have also said that the pilot has been captured, while others say that the search is continuing. 

Jaysh al-Islam, an Islamist opposition group, has said that that the plane was a Russian jet and that the pilot had been captured. The group did not respond to MEE's requests for comment. 

Russia began bombing Syria last week in support of long-time ally President Bashar al-Assad. While Moscow says it is targeting the Islamic State group, it has also hit targets belonging to other Syrian opposition groups. 

It is unclear if the plane was shot down, or if a mechanical fault was to blame. 

After the video appeared, more images of planes allegedly flying over Eastern Ghouta appeared online, although their authenticity has been seriously questioned. 

Eastern Ghouta, which borders Damascus to the east, has long been a rebel stronghold and has been subjected to repeated attacks and heavy bombardment by pro-government forces. It was also the site of a 2013 chemical attack that the West has blamed on Assad, although the government and others blamed the rebels.