Amman/Beirut : Islamic State fighters took a Jordanian pilot captive after his warplane was downed in northeastern Syria on Wednesday, the first captive taken from the U.S.-led coalition battling the jihadi group.
Jordan's armed forces said one of its pilots had been captured after his plane fell during an air raid over the northeastern Syrian province of Raqqa on Wednesday.
"Jordan holds the group (IS) and its supporters responsible for the safety of the pilot and his life," an army statement read on state television said. It did not say whether the plane was shot down.
Islamic State social media accounts published pictures purportedly of the warplane's pilot being held by the group's fighters as well as images of what they said was his Jordanian military ID card.
The images were verified by two close relatives contacted by Reuters who said they had been notified by the head of the Jordanian air force the pilot was held captive.
One of the images showed the pilot in a white shirt being led out of the water by several armed fighters. Another showed him on land surrounded by at least a dozen fighters in military fatigues and equipped with assault rifles.
Jordan is one of the countries participating in the U.S.-led coalition set up to battle Islamic State and which has been bombing Islamic State targets in Syria since September.
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have also participated in or supported the strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria, according to U.S. Central Command.
Raqqa province, which borders Turkey, is almost entirely under the control of Islamic State fighters.
Boosted by arms seized in Iraq, the group evicted most rival rebels from the province earlier this year and took control of a string of government military bases over the summer, including an air base.
The United States is also bombing Islamic State targets in Iraq, where the group has seized swathes of territory.
Jordan's armed forces said one of its pilots had been captured after his plane fell during an air raid over the northeastern Syrian province of Raqqa on Wednesday.
"Jordan holds the group (IS) and its supporters responsible for the safety of the pilot and his life," an army statement read on state television said. It did not say whether the plane was shot down.
The images were verified by two close relatives contacted by Reuters who said they had been notified by the head of the Jordanian air force the pilot was held captive.
Advertisement
Jordan is one of the countries participating in the U.S.-led coalition set up to battle Islamic State and which has been bombing Islamic State targets in Syria since September.
Advertisement
Raqqa province, which borders Turkey, is almost entirely under the control of Islamic State fighters.
Advertisement
The United States is also bombing Islamic State targets in Iraq, where the group has seized swathes of territory.
© Thomson Reuters 2014
COMMENTS
Advertisement
"Train Studio": Wholesome Video Of Men Singing, Vibing To Music In Mumbai Local Is Viral What Is Digital Arrest, The New Scam That Targeted Lucknow Writer-Poet 5 Facts On Raj Tarun, Telugu Actor Accused On Cheating By Live-In Partner Joe Biden Tests Positive For Covid As Age Worries Mount Amid Huge Row, Karnataka Pauses Bill For Reservation In Private Sector Firms Travel Influencer Aanvi Kamdar Dies After Falling Off A Waterfall Near Mumbai 'Friend' Arrested For Making Viral Mumbai Couple's Intimate Videos: Cops UK Covid-19 Inquiry To Issue First Report On Preparedness Secret Service Head To Testify To US House Panel On Trump Shooting Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.