"There is continuous shelling using artillery, mortar and warplane bombs, " activist Abu Ali said.

CNN: Violence surges in strategic Syrian city

Development of the next generation of warplane is already over budget and behind schedule.

BBC: Joint Strike Fighter: Jet that's a 'spy in the sky'

One activist told Reuters news agency that the warplane had attacked the petrol station as a consignment of fuel arrived.

BBC: Syria: Deadly air strike 'hits Damascus petrol station'

Gen Dempsey also said it appeared that rebels had recently shot down a Syrian warplane, despite Damascus insisting that it had suffered a technical fault.

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She said one of two fliers who ejected from the stricken warplane was outside, that he was conscious and that she had already called for help.

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Richard Fisher, Asian Security Studies Fellow here at the Center, challenges critics of the next-generation warplane in a letter in the April 12 Washington Post.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy