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Jordanian pilot captured by Islamic State after warplane goes down in Syria Jordanian pilot captured by Islamic State after warplane goes down in Syria
(about 2 hours later)
BEIRUT — A Jordanian pilot flying over Syria as part of a U.S.-led coalition was captured by the Islamic State on Wednesday after the militant group shot down his plane, a Jordanian official and activists said. BEIRUT — A Jordanian pilot flying over Syria as part of a U.S.-led coalition was captured by the Islamic State on Wednesday after his plane went down, a Jordanian official and activists said.
The Islamic State also took credit for the capture, posting images on social media sites purportedly showing the pilot surrounded by armed members of the group, although the images could not be verified. The Islamic State also took credit for the capture, posting images on social media sites purportedly showing the pilot surrounded by armed members of the group, although the pictures could not be verified.
Jordan’s information minister, Mohammad Momani, said the warplane was downed by “ground fire,” the Associated Press reported, although he did not offer details. Jordanian Information Minister Mohammad Momani said the plane was thought to have been shot down, the Associated Press reported.
“We are aware of the capture of a Jordanian pilot by ISIL,” Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman, said in Washington. “We are working closely with the government of Jordan to determine the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident.” The Islamic State is also variously known as ISIS, ISIL and Daesh. “It is our expectation that the plane went down because of fire from the ground, but it is difficult to confirm that, with the little information we have,” he said.
“We are aware of the capture of a Jordanian pilot by ISIL,” Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman, said in Washington, using an alternative acronym for the Islamic State. “We are working closely with the government of Jordan to determine the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident.”
The pilot was seized near the Syrian city of Raqqa, the de facto capital of the Islamic State, said the head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, who goes by the pseudonym Rami Abdulrahman.The pilot was seized near the Syrian city of Raqqa, the de facto capital of the Islamic State, said the head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, who goes by the pseudonym Rami Abdulrahman.
The capture is a blow to the coalition and its Arab members: Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. In September, they joined the United States and other Western nations in launching airstrikes against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. Qatar plays a logistical role in the coalition. The capture is a blow to the U.S.-led coalition and its Arab members: Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. In September, they joined the United States and other Western nations in launching airstrikes against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. Qatar also plays a logistical role in the coalition. A separate U.S. coalition, including Western governments, began strikes against the Islamic State in Iraq in June.
“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 on Wednesday.
Although the circumstances of the crash remained unclear, the aircraft appeared to have been shot down by a surface-to-air weapons system, possibly an antiaircraft gun or shoulder-fired missile, Abdulrahman said. Although the circumstances of the crash remain unclear, the aircraft appeared to have been shot down by a surface-to-air weapons system, possibly an antiaircraft gun or shoulder-fired missile, he said.
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. It is not known where the militants could have obtained weapons capable of shooting down an aircraft. Both the Islamic State and other rebel groups are thought to have procured surface-to-air missiles from Syrian military bases they have overrun or from black-market purchases.
Hisham al-Hashemi, an Iraqi researcher and expert on the Islamic State, said the group obtained several dozen shoulder-fired missiles from the Tabqa air base near Raqqa after seizing the compound this summer. Since the U.S.-led airstrikes against the Islamic State began in the summer, first in Iraq and later in Syria, the flights have been conducted more or less with impunity. Certain knowledge that the militants have the capability of shooting down the warplanes may change the coalition’s risk equation.
When the militants downed an Iraqi helicopter in October, the group released a video showing one of its fighters with a Chinese-made FN-6 shoulder-fired missile. In Iraq, Islamic State militants have used shoulder-fired missiles to down three Iraqi military helicopters in the past three months.
Earlier this month, the militants downed an Iraqi helicopter over the Shiite holy city of Samarra, about 80 miles northwest of Baghdad. When the jihadists downed an Iraqi helicopter in October, the group released a video showing one of its fighters with a Chinese-made FN-6 man-portable air-defense system, or MANPADS.
It was unclear how the capture of the Jordanian pilot would affect the U.S.-led air war in Iraq and Syria. Hashemi said it is unlikely that Jordan will withdraw from the coalition. Earlier this month, the militants shot down an Iraqi helicopter over the Shiite holy city of Samarra, about 80 miles northwest of Baghdad.
In the past month, the coalition has carried out 13 airstrikes in and around Raqqa, according to the Coalition Joint Task Force. It conducted one airstrike Wednesday near Raqqa that struck an Islamic State weapons stockpile, the coalition said in a statement. An initial version of the news release contained the standard phrase “all aircraft returned to base safely.” Within moments, however, the coalition issued a new version in which the line was deleted. In the past month, the international coalition has carried out 13 airstrikes in and around Raqqa, according to the Coalition Joint Task Force. It conducted one airstrike Wednesday near Raqqa that struck an Islamic State weapons stockpile, the coalition said in a statement. An initial version of the news release contained the standard phrase “all aircraft returned to base safely.” Within moments, however, the coalition issued a new version in which the line was deleted.
In Raqqa, Syrian government warplanes also have carried out lethal airstrikes. One attack last month, occurring two days before U.S. airstrikes on the city, killed dozens of civilians. In Raqqa, Syrian government warplanes also have carried out lethal airstrikes. One air raid last month, conducted two days before U.S. airstrikes on the city, killed dozens of civilians.
Washington says it does not coordinate with Damascus over such airstrikes, which have angered Syrian rebels. They criticize the U.S.-led bombings campaign as indirectly helping the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, which also views the Islamic State as an enemy. Washington says it does not coordinate with Damascus over such airstrikes, which have angered Syrian rebels battling the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. They criticize the U.S.-led bombing campaign as indirectly helping the Assad government, which also views the Islamic State as an enemy.
Cunningham reported from Baghdad. Mustafa Salim in Baghdad contributed to this report. Cunningham reported from Baghdad. Mustafa Salim in Baghdad and Karen deYoung in Washington contributed to this report.