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Isis captures Syrian pilot after plane crashes southeast of Damascus | Isis captures Syrian pilot after plane crashes southeast of Damascus |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Isis fighters have captured the pilot of a Syrian warplane they claim to have downed near the country's capital. | |
"The pilot, called Azzam Eid, from Hama was captured after he fell by parachute near the site where his plane crashed east of Damascus," a statement published by its propaganda outlet Amaq said. | |
Citing a Syrian military source, Russian news agency Interfax said the plane belonged to the Syrian Air Force and crashed because of a technical fault. | Citing a Syrian military source, Russian news agency Interfax said the plane belonged to the Syrian Air Force and crashed because of a technical fault. |
"The plane had recently undergone repairs... there was no attack from the ground. It crashed because of a technical fault. The pilot ejected," Interfax quoted the source as saying. | "The plane had recently undergone repairs... there was no attack from the ground. It crashed because of a technical fault. The pilot ejected," Interfax quoted the source as saying. |
Earlier, another Islamist group in the area, Jaysh al-Islam, said the plane had crashed near the town of Bir al-Qasb due to a technical fault shortly after it left the Dumayr air base. | |
But a video shared online by Amaq claimed the plane had been shot down, showing fighters clambering over its burning wreckage and stamping on the Syrian flag painted on its wing. | |
Fighting is raging in the area around Dumeir airport between forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad, Isis and the Syrian opposition. | |
The so-called Islamic State overran part of the region earlier this month, capturing hundreds of civilan workers from a cement factory, including several who were later massacred. | |
Additional reporting by Reuters | Additional reporting by Reuters |
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