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Islamic State did not shoot down Jordan plane, says US | Islamic State did not shoot down Jordan plane, says US |
(35 minutes later) | |
The Jordanian plane that crashed in Syria was not shot down by Islamic State (IS) militants, the US says. | The Jordanian plane that crashed in Syria was not shot down by Islamic State (IS) militants, the US says. |
The plane was lost in IS territory on Wednesday morning, and the pilot has been captured. | The plane was lost in IS territory on Wednesday morning, and the pilot has been captured. |
IS militants said that they shot down the plane with a heat-seeking missile. However, the US says "evidence clearly indicates" that this is not true. | IS militants said that they shot down the plane with a heat-seeking missile. However, the US says "evidence clearly indicates" that this is not true. |
Jordan is one of four Arab states in a US-led coalition that has launched air strikes on IS targets in Syria. | Jordan is one of four Arab states in a US-led coalition that has launched air strikes on IS targets in Syria. |
The F-16 fighter jet is the first coalition aircraft to be lost on IS territory since air strikes began in September. | The F-16 fighter jet is the first coalition aircraft to be lost on IS territory since air strikes began in September. |
IS fighters have published photographs showing the pilot being captured. They named the pilot as Flight Lieutenant Moaz Youssef al-Kasasbeh. | IS fighters have published photographs showing the pilot being captured. They named the pilot as Flight Lieutenant Moaz Youssef al-Kasasbeh. |
In a statement, US Central Command (Centcom) said it strongly condemned the actions of IS, and confirmed the group "has taken captive the downed pilot". | |
It did not say what could have caused the plane to crash. | It did not say what could have caused the plane to crash. |
However, it said it would not tolerate IS's "attempts to misrepresent or exploit this unfortunate aircraft crash for their own purposes". | However, it said it would not tolerate IS's "attempts to misrepresent or exploit this unfortunate aircraft crash for their own purposes". |
"Evidence clearly indicates that Isil [IS] did not down the aircraft as the terrorist organisation is claiming," it added. | "Evidence clearly indicates that Isil [IS] did not down the aircraft as the terrorist organisation is claiming," it added. |
Centcom added that the Jordanians were "valued partners" whose pilots had "performed exceptionally well" during its campaign. | |
The US had launched planes after the Jordanian jet crashed, but the pilot was seized before a rescue attempt could be made, a US official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. | |
The pro-IS Raqqa Media Center posted photos on its Facebook page that appeared to show the captured pilot, and men taking the aircraft out of what appeared to be a lake or river. | |
In a statement, the Jordanian military said: "Jordan holds the group and its supporters responsible for the safety of the pilot and his life." | |
Lt Kasasbeh's father, Youssef al-Kasasbeh, issued an appeal to IS leaders through Jordanian newspaper Saraya. | |
"May Allah plant mercy in your hearts and may you release my son," he said. | |
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also expressed "concern" for Lt Kasasbeh, and called on him to be treated "in accordance with international humanitarian laws". | |
Moaz Youssef al-Kasasbeh | |
The air forces of Jordan, the US, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain have carried out hundreds of air strikes on IS in Syria in the past three months. | |
Many of the targets have been in and around Raqqa, which is the de facto capital of the "caliphate" whose creation IS proclaimed in June. | |
Correspondents say that IS is assumed to have a limited air defence capability. | Correspondents say that IS is assumed to have a limited air defence capability. |
However, IS fighters have downed Iraqi and Syrian government planes in the past, and the group's full capabilities are not known. | However, IS fighters have downed Iraqi and Syrian government planes in the past, and the group's full capabilities are not known. |