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Coalition warplane reportedly down in Syria by Islamic State Coalition warplane reportedly downed in Syria by Islamic State
(35 minutes later)
BEIRUT — The Islamic State downed a warplane early Wednesday that was flying over Syria as part of a U.S.-led coalition against the militant group, according to activists and a group that monitors the Syrian conflict.BEIRUT — The Islamic State downed a warplane early Wednesday that was flying over Syria as part of a U.S.-led coalition against the militant group, according to activists and a group that monitors the Syrian conflict.
Militants captured the pilot, believed to be a citizen of one of four Arab countries participating in the coalition, near the Syrian city of Raqqa, the defacto capital of Islamic State, said Rami Abdulrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Militants captured the pilot, believed to be a citizen of one of four Arab countries carrying out air raids with the coalition, near the Syrian city of Raqqa, the defacto capital of Islamic State, said Rami Abdulrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The Raqqa Media Center, an activist group that reports on Islamic State in the city, identified the pilot as Jordanian, The Associated Press reported.The Raqqa Media Center, an activist group that reports on Islamic State in the city, identified the pilot as Jordanian, The Associated Press reported.
Supporters of Islamic State posted pictures on social media purportedly showing the pilot surrounded by armed members of the militant group, although the images could not be verified.Supporters of Islamic State posted pictures on social media purportedly showing the pilot surrounded by armed members of the militant group, although the images could not be verified.
The capture of such a pilot would be a blow to the coalition and its Arab country members: Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. In September, they joined the United States and other Western nations in launching air raids against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. Jordanian officials were not immediately available for comment on the incident. The capture of such a pilot would be a blow to the coalition and its Arab country members: Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. In September, they joined the United States and other Western nations in launching air raids against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. Qatar plays a logistical role in the coalition. Jordanian officials were not immediately available for comment on the incident.
“This happened early this morning, and our activists on the ground have confirmed that the pilot is still alive and being held near Raqqa,” Abdulrahman said by telephone.“This happened early this morning, and our activists on the ground have confirmed that the pilot is still alive and being held near Raqqa,” Abdulrahman said by telephone.
The aircraft appears to have been shot down by a surface-to-air weapons system, possibly an anti-aircraft gun or shoulder-fired missile, which may have been obtained from Syria rebels, he said.The aircraft appears to have been shot down by a surface-to-air weapons system, possibly an anti-aircraft gun or shoulder-fired missile, which may have been obtained from Syria rebels, he said.
Iraqi researcher and expert on the Islamic State, Hisham al-Hashemi, said the group obtained several dozen shoulder-fired missiles from the Tabqa airbase near Raqqa after seizing the compound this summer.Iraqi researcher and expert on the Islamic State, Hisham al-Hashemi, said the group obtained several dozen shoulder-fired missiles from the Tabqa airbase near Raqqa after seizing the compound this summer.
Since October, the group has shot down three Iraqi military helicopters with surface-to-air missiles, Iraqi officials and international weapons experts have said.Since October, the group has shot down three Iraqi military helicopters with surface-to-air missiles, Iraqi officials and international weapons experts have said.
But Hashemi, who maintains contacts within the group, said the militants do not have an unlimited supply, and have been hurt by the ongoing coalition raids on their weapons stockpiles. On Dec. 13, the militants downed an Iraqi helicopter over the Shiite holy city of Samarra, just 60 miles north of Baghdad.But Hashemi, who maintains contacts within the group, said the militants do not have an unlimited supply, and have been hurt by the ongoing coalition raids on their weapons stockpiles. On Dec. 13, the militants downed an Iraqi helicopter over the Shiite holy city of Samarra, just 60 miles north of Baghdad.
In Raqqa, Syrian government warplanes have also carried out lethal air strikes. One attack last month killed dozens of civilians, occurring two days before airstrikes on the city by United States warplanes.In Raqqa, Syrian government warplanes have also carried out lethal air strikes. One attack last month killed dozens of civilians, occurring two days before airstrikes on the city by United States warplanes.
Washington says that it does not coordinate with Damascus over such airstrikes, which have angered Syrian rebels. They criticize U.S.-led coalition bombings as indirectly helping the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, which also views Islamic State as an enemy.Washington says that it does not coordinate with Damascus over such airstrikes, which have angered Syrian rebels. They criticize U.S.-led coalition bombings as indirectly helping the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, which also views Islamic State as an enemy.
In the last month, the coalition has carried out 13 air strikes in and around Raqqa, according to statements from the Coalition Joint Task Force. The last coalition strike before today’s incident was on Dec. 22, and included a raid on an Islamic State checkpoint, the statement said.In the last month, the coalition has carried out 13 air strikes in and around Raqqa, according to statements from the Coalition Joint Task Force. The last coalition strike before today’s incident was on Dec. 22, and included a raid on an Islamic State checkpoint, the statement said.
Erin Cunningham and Mustafa Salim contributed reporting from Baghdad.Erin Cunningham and Mustafa Salim contributed reporting from Baghdad.