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Islamist rebel fighters down Syrian aircraft near Aleppo battle front Suspected Islamist militants down Syrian aircraft near Aleppo battle front
(about 1 hour later)
BEIRUT — A missile fired from rebel-held areas downed a Syrian reconnaissance plane Tuesday, Syria’s military said, as a partial truce showed further signs of fraying. Activists said the aircraft was targeted by Islamist militants engaged in the ongoing clashes. BEIRUT — A missile fired from rebel-held areas downed a Syrian reconnaissance plane on Tuesday, Syria’s military said, as a partial truce showed further signs of fraying. Activists said the aircraft was targeted by Islamist militants engaged in the ongoing clashes.
The aircraft was hit near the city of Aleppo, a front line in ongoing battles that include an al-Qaeda-affiliated faction, Jabhat al-Nusra, which took the pilot captive, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group. The aircraft was hit near the city of Aleppo, a front line in the fighting. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, said al-Qaeda-affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra took the pilot captive.
The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency, citing an unnamed military source, reported later that an aircraft on a surveillance mission was brought down with a surface-to-air missile, and the pilot ejected. Such missiles were believed used in past attacks by Jabhat al-Nusra fighters against Syrian aircraft. The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency, citing an unnamed military source, reported later that an aircraft on a surveillance mission was brought down with a surface-to-air missile and that the pilot ejected. Jabhat al-Nusra fighters have been suspected of using such missiles in past attacks.
[Inside Syria’s war: View from 3 cities][Inside Syria’s war: View from 3 cities]
Other rebel forces — including some factions backed by the West — have heavy machine guns and other arms. But the latest targeting of a plane suggests the al-Qaeda affiliate could still have an edge in firepower. The reports of the plane downing suggest that Jabhat al-Nusra, which is seeking to claim new territory as it remains excluded from the truce, has an edge in firepower compared with other forces fighting the government, including some factions backed by the West. The incident could amplify calls from these rebel groups, which have heavy machine guns and other arms, to expand their arsenal to include such advanced weaponry as antiaircraft systems.
Jabhat al-Nusra seeks to claim new territory as it disregards a peace process after being denied a place at the table because of its extremist ties. The incident also could further amplify calls from other rebel groups, financed and armed by countries such as Saudi Arabia, to expand their arsenal, such as antiaircraft systems. A video posted on Facebook purported to show the plane’s wreckage and a mob surrounding the pilot, who apparently survived. The video’s authenticity could not be independently verified.
A video posted on Facebook purported to show the wreckage and an angry mob surrounding the pilot, who apparently survived. The video’s authenticity could not be independently verified. In November, Turkey shot down a Russian warplane over Syria, an incident that escalated tensions in what has become a volatile proxy conflict involving world powers — with the West and its allies backing the rebels, while Russia and Iran support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
In November, Turkey shot down a Russian warplane over Syria, an incident that dramatically escalated tensions in what has become a volatile proxy conflict for world powers — with the West and its allies backing rebels, while Russia and Iran support the forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
[In Aleppo: Rubble on one side, restaurants on the other][In Aleppo: Rubble on one side, restaurants on the other]
Around Aleppo, a major city in Syria’s northwest, opposition groups have attempted to seize areas from forces aligned with Assad’s government. Around Aleppo, a major northwestern city, opposition groups have attempted to seize areas from forces aligned with Assad.
In the northwestern Latakia province that borders Turkey, rebels and Jabhat al-Nusra militants have carried out similar attacks in recent days. The Syrian leader’s forces, in turn, have been accused of numerous violations of the nationwide cease-fire that took hold Feb. 27. In the northwestern Latakia province, which borders Turkey, rebels and Jabhat al-Nusra militants have carried out attacks in recent days. Government forces, in turn, have been accused of numerous violations of the cease-fire, which took hold Feb. 27.
“Our attacks are a response to ongoing regime violations of the truce,” said Ahmed Haj Ali, a spokesman for the 1st Coastal Division, a rebel outfit that is affiliated with the umbrella Free Syrian Army group. “Our attacks are a response to ongoing regime violations of the truce,” said Ahmed Haj Ali, a spokesman for the 1st Coastal Division, a rebel outfit affiliated with the umbrella Free Syrian Army group.
The worsening violence could threaten the momentum of talks in Geneva that resumed last month as part of a renewed international effort, led by Russia and the United States, to end Syria’s devastating civil war. The worsening violence could threaten the momentum of talks in Geneva that resumed last month as part of a renewed international effort, led by Russia and the United States, to end Syria’s civil war.
Staffan de Mistura, the U.N. envoy to Syria and mediator for the talks, plans to reconvene with government and opposition delegations in the Swiss city this month.Staffan de Mistura, the U.N. envoy to Syria and mediator for the talks, plans to reconvene with government and opposition delegations in the Swiss city this month.
“We are all surprised at how long this cessation of hostilities has lasted, but it still contains profound flaws and ambiguities,” said Emile Hokayem, a Middle East analyst at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies.
“But the fighting has not stopped,” he said.
[Scenes of misery, hints of hope in Aleppo][Scenes of misery, hints of hope in Aleppo]
The cease-fire, which serves as the basis for the talks, has received firm backing from Russia and the United States. Although violence has been reduced, Hokayem said, a task force to monitor violations lacks an enforcement mechanism. The cease-fire serves as the basis for the talks and has received firm backing from Russia and the United States.
Warring parties have repeatedly flagged alleged violations, which still are committed daily, especially by government forces, analysts and Syrian rebels say. “We are all surprised at how long this cessation of hostilities has lasted,” said Emile Hokayem, a Middle East analyst at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies. “But it still contains profound flaws and ambiguities.”
On Monday, an apparent Syrian government warplane bombed a hospital in Azaz, a rebel-held town near the Turkish border. Hokayem noted that although violence has been reduced, a task force to monitor violations lacks an enforcement mechanism.
Last week, government aircraft bombarded a rebel-held suburb of the capital, Damascus, killing more than 30 people, according to monitoring groups and activists. On Monday, a suspected Syrian government warplane bombed a hospital in Azaz, a rebel-held town near the Turkish border.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that 12 children and one emergency responder were among those killed in the attack in the town, Deir al-Asafir. Last week, government aircraft bombarded a rebel-held suburb of the capital, Damascus, killing more than 30 people, according to monitoring groups and activists. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 12 children and one emergency responder were among those killed in the attack in Deir al-Asafir.
That incident drew strong rebukes from Western powers, particularly from French Foreign Ministry spokesman Romain Nadal. That airstrike drew condemnation from Western powers.
“This attack, which deliberately targeted civilians, including children, shows that the regime is continuing its abuses and violating the truce,” said Nadal, who condemned the Syrian government. “This attack, which deliberately targeted civilians, including children, shows that the regime is continuing its abuses and violating the truce,” said a spokesman from the French Foreign Ministry, Romain Nadal.
Jabhat al-Nusra and the Islamic State are excluded from the cease-fire and have been targeted independently by government forces, rebels and an international military coalition led by the United States. Jabhat al-Nusra and the Islamic State militant group are excluded from the cease-fire and have been targeted independently by government forces, rebels and an international military coalition led by the United States.
Late last month, Syrian forces and allied militants from Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia — backed by Russian air raids — captured the ancient city of Palmyra from Islamic State fighters, dealing a blow to the extremist group. Late last month, Syrian forces and allied fighters from Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia — backed by Russian air raids — captured the ancient city of Palmyra from the Islamic State, dealing a blow to the extremist group.
Zakaria Zakaria in Istanbul and Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.Zakaria Zakaria in Istanbul and Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.