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Coalition warplane reportedly down in Syria by Islamic State; Jordanian pilot captured Coalition warplane reportedly down in Syria by Islamic State; Jordanian pilot captured
(35 minutes later)
BEIRUT — The Islamic State on Wednesday downed a warplane 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 on Wednesday downed a warplane 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.
The Jordanian military confirmed the capture of one of its pilots by the Islamic State, but said the plane went down in a “crash,” news services reported. The Jordanian military confirmed the capture of one of its pilots by the Islamic State, but said the plane went down in a “crash.”
Militants captured the pilot near the Syrian city of Raqqa, the de facto capital of Islamic State, said Rami Abdulrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.Militants captured the pilot near the Syrian city of Raqqa, the de facto 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, and the Jordanian military later confirmed the capture, news services 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. Later Wednesday, Jordan’s military confirmed that one of its planes had crashed in Syria’s Raqqa province while carrying out a mission, and that its pilot had been taken hostage by the group.
According to the Associated Press, Jordan’s military said in a statement, “one of our warplanes crashed” during a mission against the Islamic State. “The pilot was taken hostage by the Daesh terrorist organization,” it added, using the Arabic acronym for the organization.
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. Qatar plays a logistical role in the coalition. 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.
“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. While the circumstances of the crash remained unclear, the aircraft appeared 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, the Observatory’s Abdulrahman said.
In a report released in August, the Small Arms Survey, a Geneva-based clearinghouse for global information on small arms violence, said Syrian insurgent groups had acquired at least eight different models of such man-portable air-defense weapons systems.
Since October, Islamic State militants have used shoulder-fired missiles to shoot down three Iraqi military helicopters, Iraqi defense officials and international weapons experts 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. When the militants downed an Iraqi helicopter in October, the group released a video showing one of its fighters with a Chinese-made FN-6shoulder-fired missile.
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. Earlier this month, the militants downed an Iraqi helicopter over the Shiite holy city of Samarra, just 60 miles north of Baghdad.
It was unclear how the capture of the Jordanian pilot would affect the U.S.-led air war in Iraq and Syria. Hashemi said he did not believe that Jordan would withdraw from the coalition.
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 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.
Erin Cunningham and Mustafa Salim contributed reporting from Baghdad.Erin Cunningham and Mustafa Salim contributed reporting from Baghdad.