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| Isis fighters 'shoot down US-led coalition war plane and capture Jordanian pilot' | Isis fighters 'shoot down US-led coalition war plane and capture Jordanian pilot' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Isis fighters shot down a Jordanian warplane over Syria, believed to be from the US-led coalition and captured one if its pilots, the Jordanian army has confirmed. | Isis fighters shot down a Jordanian warplane over Syria, believed to be from the US-led coalition and captured one if its pilots, the Jordanian army has confirmed. |
| While the cause of the crash was not immediately clear, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the aircraft was shot down yesterday near the northern province of Raqqa, which is almost entirely under the control of Isis. | While the cause of the crash was not immediately clear, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the aircraft was shot down yesterday near the northern province of Raqqa, which is almost entirely under the control of Isis. |
| However, US officials said on Wednesday evening that the plane was not shot down by Isis, BBC News has reported. | |
| Relatives of the pilot, believed to be First Lieutenant Muath al-Kasaesbeh, 26, say he was captured by fighters after his plane was downed. Two relatives told Reuters they were notified by the head of the Jordanian air force of his capture. | Relatives of the pilot, believed to be First Lieutenant Muath al-Kasaesbeh, 26, say he was captured by fighters after his plane was downed. Two relatives told Reuters they were notified by the head of the Jordanian air force of his capture. |
| The incident makes Al-Kasaesbeh the first foreign soldier to fall into the extremist's hands. | The incident makes Al-Kasaesbeh the first foreign soldier to fall into the extremist's hands. |
| The Jordanian military said in a statement read on state television today that its air force was carrying out a military mission against Isis "hideouts" on Wednesday morning, when "one of our warplanes crashed." | The Jordanian military said in a statement read on state television today that its air force was carrying out a military mission against Isis "hideouts" on Wednesday morning, when "one of our warplanes crashed." |
| "The pilot was taken hostage by the Daesh terrorist organisation," it added, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group. | "The pilot was taken hostage by the Daesh terrorist organisation," it added, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group. |
| It said IS and "those who support it" will be responsible for the safety of the pilot. | It said IS and "those who support it" will be responsible for the safety of the pilot. |
| Later,Jordan's Information Minister Mohammad Al-Momani told satellite TV station Al Hadath the jet fighter "was shot at from the ground by rocket missiles and was brought down" and that an attempt to rescue the pilot before he was captured failed. | Later,Jordan's Information Minister Mohammad Al-Momani told satellite TV station Al Hadath the jet fighter "was shot at from the ground by rocket missiles and was brought down" and that an attempt to rescue the pilot before he was captured failed. |
| Al-Momani vowed that "the war on terrorism will continue," saying, the fight with the extremists was "to defend the Islamic religion." | Al-Momani vowed that "the war on terrorism will continue," saying, the fight with the extremists was "to defend the Islamic religion." |
| The statement went on to describe Isis as a group that "does not want to conceal its terrorist plots" and which commits "many criminal acts from wanton destruction to killing innocent Muslim and non-Muslims in Syria and Iraq". | The statement went on to describe Isis as a group that "does not want to conceal its terrorist plots" and which commits "many criminal acts from wanton destruction to killing innocent Muslim and non-Muslims in Syria and Iraq". |
| The pro-Isis Raqqa Media Centre (RMC) said the plane was downed near the village of Hamra Ghannam, outside Raqqa. | The pro-Isis Raqqa Media Centre (RMC) said the plane was downed near the village of Hamra Ghannam, outside Raqqa. |
| The organisation posted pictures of the pilot surrounded by more than a dozen militants, some masked, shortly after he was captured. It also released images of the militants posing with pieces of wreckage. | The organisation posted pictures of the pilot surrounded by more than a dozen militants, some masked, shortly after he was captured. It also released images of the militants posing with pieces of wreckage. |
| Another image published by the RMC showed the man — wearing only a white shirt and soaking wet — being captured by three gunmen as he was taken out of what appeared to be a lake. Al-Kasaesbeh's relatives verified these images. | Another image published by the RMC showed the man — wearing only a white shirt and soaking wet — being captured by three gunmen as he was taken out of what appeared to be a lake. Al-Kasaesbeh's relatives verified these images. |
| The Raqqa Media Center released this picture of what they say is the pilot's ID Members of the Islamic State group with a captured pilot A friend said Al-Kasaesbeh, who is from a prominent Jordanian family, was strongly committed to his mission and felt it was his religious duty to fight extremist groups that are "distorting the true spirit of Islam". | The Raqqa Media Center released this picture of what they say is the pilot's ID Members of the Islamic State group with a captured pilot A friend said Al-Kasaesbeh, who is from a prominent Jordanian family, was strongly committed to his mission and felt it was his religious duty to fight extremist groups that are "distorting the true spirit of Islam". |
| AL RAI Chief International Correspondent shared a picture of what he said was the captured pilot meeting the King of Jordan. | AL RAI Chief International Correspondent shared a picture of what he said was the captured pilot meeting the King of Jordan. |
| Photo of Jordanian 1st LT Maaz al-Kasabsa captured by #IS today over #Raqqa #Syria with King of #Jordan. pic.twitter.com/SwNA33QXem | Photo of Jordanian 1st LT Maaz al-Kasabsa captured by #IS today over #Raqqa #Syria with King of #Jordan. pic.twitter.com/SwNA33QXem |
| RMC later posted a photograph of the Jordanian military identity card of the pilot identifying him as Mu'ath Safi Yousef al-Kaseasbeh who was born on May 29, 1988. | RMC later posted a photograph of the Jordanian military identity card of the pilot identifying him as Mu'ath Safi Yousef al-Kaseasbeh who was born on May 29, 1988. |
| The Raqqa Media Center said Isis fighters are searching the area in case there is a second pilot. | The Raqqa Media Center said Isis fighters are searching the area in case there is a second pilot. |
| Activists believe Isis have Igla missile systems, which were either taken or bought from rival Syrian rebels, or looted fro Syrian or Iraqi state arsenals. | Activists believe Isis have Igla missile systems, which were either taken or bought from rival Syrian rebels, or looted fro Syrian or Iraqi state arsenals. |
| The US-led coalition, which includes has carried out hundreds of air strikes against Isis positions in Syria since 23 September, | The US-led coalition, which includes has carried out hundreds of air strikes against Isis positions in Syria since 23 September, |
| Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have joined in air strikes against the extremist group, while Qatar is providing logistical support. | Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have joined in air strikes against the extremist group, while Qatar is providing logistical support. |
| A staunch US ally, Jordan has also acted as a logistics base for the US-led campaign, and is a hub for intelligence-gathering operations against the jihadists, a western diplomatic source told Reuters. | A staunch US ally, Jordan has also acted as a logistics base for the US-led campaign, and is a hub for intelligence-gathering operations against the jihadists, a western diplomatic source told Reuters. |
| Earlier, US officials said no US aircraft or personnel had been involved in the incident and the cause of the crash was unknown. | |
| A Pentagon official in Washington said the body is aware of claims being made over social media that a pilot has been shot down, but they could not confirm the report at this time. | A Pentagon official in Washington said the body is aware of claims being made over social media that a pilot has been shot down, but they could not confirm the report at this time. |
| The official said any further questions about the alleged capture should be referred to the government of Jordan. He spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the reports by name. | The official said any further questions about the alleged capture should be referred to the government of Jordan. He spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the reports by name. |
| Additional reporting by AP and Reuters | Additional reporting by AP and Reuters |