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Islamic State 'training pilots to fly fighter jets' | Islamic State 'training pilots to fly fighter jets' |
(35 minutes later) | |
Iraqi pilots who have joined Islamic State are training its members in Syria to fly three captured fighter jets, according to a UK-based activist group that monitors the conflict. | Iraqi pilots who have joined Islamic State are training its members in Syria to fly three captured fighter jets, according to a UK-based activist group that monitors the conflict. |
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said witnesses had seen the planes being flown around a military airport in Aleppo. | The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said witnesses had seen the planes being flown around a military airport in Aleppo. |
Meanwhile, Iraqi forces have launched an attack on IS militants near Tikrit. | Meanwhile, Iraqi forces have launched an attack on IS militants near Tikrit. |
The city was among the areas in Syria and Iraq seized by IS this year. | The city was among the areas in Syria and Iraq seized by IS this year. |
Rami Abdul Rahman, head of the SOHR, said IS was using Iraqi officers who were pilots under ex-Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to train fighters in Syria. | Rami Abdul Rahman, head of the SOHR, said IS was using Iraqi officers who were pilots under ex-Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to train fighters in Syria. |
"People saw the flights, they went up many times from the airport and they are flying in the skies outside the airport and coming back," he said. | "People saw the flights, they went up many times from the airport and they are flying in the skies outside the airport and coming back," he said. |
It is not known how many Iraqi pilots have defected. | |
Witnesses told the SOHR the planes appeared to be MiG-21 or MiG-23 models. | Witnesses told the SOHR the planes appeared to be MiG-21 or MiG-23 models. |
The BBC's Sally Nabil in Baghdad says IS has three planes which it captured earlier from the Syrian military in Aleppo and Raqqa. | The BBC's Sally Nabil in Baghdad says IS has three planes which it captured earlier from the Syrian military in Aleppo and Raqqa. |
Aleppo became a key battleground in the fight between Syrian rebels, which now include IS, and government forces after the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad in 2011. | |
New coordination | |
Separately, the Iraqi government said its troops had gained ground to the north and west of Tikrit and cut an important IS supply route. | Separately, the Iraqi government said its troops had gained ground to the north and west of Tikrit and cut an important IS supply route. |
Correspondents say that past efforts by the government to regain territory in the area have ended in failure. | Correspondents say that past efforts by the government to regain territory in the area have ended in failure. |
Meanwhile Kurdish forces, backed by US-led air strikes, are continuing to fight militants in the northern Syrian town of Kobane. | Meanwhile Kurdish forces, backed by US-led air strikes, are continuing to fight militants in the northern Syrian town of Kobane. |
US-led warplanes struck IS positions on Friday, taking advantage of new coordination with the town's Kurdish defenders, the SOHR said. | |
The battle for Kobane, which is also known as Ayn al-Arab, is regarded as a major test of whether the US-led coalition's air campaign can push back IS. | The battle for Kobane, which is also known as Ayn al-Arab, is regarded as a major test of whether the US-led coalition's air campaign can push back IS. |
Activists say more than 600 people have been killed since the jihadist group launched its assault on the mainly Kurdish town a month ago. | Activists say more than 600 people have been killed since the jihadist group launched its assault on the mainly Kurdish town a month ago. |
More than 160,000 people have fled in the face of the IS advance. | More than 160,000 people have fled in the face of the IS advance. |
Capturing the town would give the group unbroken control of a long stretch of the Syrian-Turkish border. | Capturing the town would give the group unbroken control of a long stretch of the Syrian-Turkish border. |
IS fighters have gained a reputation for brutal tactics, including mass killings and beheadings of soldiers and journalists. | IS fighters have gained a reputation for brutal tactics, including mass killings and beheadings of soldiers and journalists. |