Photos of the captured pilot distributed by ISIS on social networks.
Photos of the captured pilot distributed by ISIS on social networks.
The mosque in Al-Raqqah that was hit by a missile which ISIS claims was fired from the air (IsdaratTube, December 26, 2014).
The Sunni tribes’ announcement of the establishment of the Popular Resistance Front. The Syrian flag is visible in the background (YouTube, December 27, 2014)
The tomb of Sidi Sulayman in the village of Al-Haqf, which was blown up by ISIS
Photo: justpaste.it
Photo: Twitter account affiliated with the Islamic State, December 26, 2014
Interview with the Jordanian pilot, which appeared on the first page of the latest issue of Dabiq
Masked ISIS operative holding a knife, along with the caption: “O Jews, we are coming to kill you”
Main events of the week[1]
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The international campaign against ISIS
Attacks by the US and the coalition in Syria and Iraq
- This week, US and coalition aircraft continued to carry out dozens of airstrikes in Syria and Iraq using fighter planes, bombers and unmanned aircraft. Following are the locations and characteristics of the airstrikes (CENTCOM website, Al-Hurra channel):
- Syria– the airstrikes were concentrated in Kobani (Ayn al-Arab), where fighting between ISIS and Kurdish forces continues. ISIS targets were also attacked in the provinces of Deir al-Zor, Al-Hasakah, Aleppo and Al-Raqqah, ISIS’s “capital”. The US Army reported that the airstrikes destroyed buildings, battle positions, deployment areas, oil facilities and vehicles belonging to ISIS. Airstrikes were carried out by the US and its Arab allies (Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE).
- Iraq– the airstrikes focused on ISIS targets in the areas of Mosul, Fallujah, Al-Qaim, Baiji, the Al-Assad military airfield (in the province of Anbar, south of Haditha) and Sinjar. The attacks included equipment, vehicles and checkpoints in Al-Qaim (northwestern Iraq, near the border with Syria); a military headquarters in Mosul; buildings near Baiji where ISIS operatives were staying; ISIS vehicles and forces near the Al-Assad military airfield, and vehicles and units near Sinjar. The airstrikes were carried out by the US and its Western allies (Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, the Netherlands and Britain).
Crash of a Jordanian fighter plane, whose pilot was captured by ISIS
- On December 24, 2014, a Jordanian F-16 fighter plane crashed during a combat mission in northern Syria, near the city of Al-Raqqah. The pilot bailed out. ISIS announced that it had shot down the aircraft with an anti-aircraft missile and captured its pilot. On the other hand, the head of the US Army Central Command announced that the aircraft had crashed and was not shot down by ISIS: “Evidence clearly indicates that ISIL did not down the aircraft as the terrorist organization is claiming” (AFP, December 24, 2014). The Jordanian Army also announced that preliminary evidence indicates that the crash was not the result of firing by ISIS (Jordanian News Agency, December 24, 2014).
Left: Cries of joy of ISIS operatives in Al-Raqqah, following the crash of the Jordanian aircraft (Twitter account affiliated with the Islamic State, December 24, 2014). Right: ISIS operatives near the wreckage of the aircraft, in a photo distributed by ISIS on social networks
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This is the first time a coalition aircraft has crashed while carrying out airstrikes against ISIS. ISIS has shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, which it has used to intercept Iraqi Army helicopters on several occasions. However, the ITIC is not aware that ISIS is capable of intercepting fighter planes. Therefore, it is likely that the American and Jordanian version that the plane crashed (possibly due to a technical fault) is correct. |
- According to the Jordanian and Arab media, the pilot, who was taken prisoner by ISIS, is a first lieutenant by the name of Mu'ath Safi Yousef al-Kaseasbeh, 27, who served in the province of Karak in southern Jordan. Senior Jordanian officials stressed that they are working to secure the return of the captured pilot. Sources in the Jordanian Salafist movement announced that they are prepared to mediate between the government of Jordan and ISIS over the release of the captured pilot in return for operatives, supporters of ISIS, imprisoned in Jordan. It was also reported that Jordan has asked Turkey to help it in its efforts to secure the release of the captured pilot (Hürriyet, December 29, 2014).
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There are over 200 Salafist-jihadi operatives detained in Jordan (Al-Ghad, December 29, 2014). Some of them have been detained for involvement in terrorism and subversion against the regime.Their possible release in exchange for the captive Jordanian pilot is liable to strengthen the power of the supporters of ISIS and the global jihad in Jordan, increase the risk that they pose to the Hashemite regime and, possibly, hamper Jordan’s involvement in the US-led coalition.[2] |
Number of casualties in coalition airstrikes
- According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), since the international coalition’s airstrikes began, around 1,170 people have been killed and over 800 have been injured. Among those killed, 1,046 were ISIS operatives and 72 were Al-Nusra Front operatives. A total of 52 civilians were also killed in coalition airstrikes.
Main developments in Syria
[1]The weekly publication Spotlight on Global Jihad monitors developments among ISIS and global jihad organizations in the Middle East and terrorist activities around the world, directed, supported or inspired by the global jihad organizations in the Middle East.
[2]For information about the support for ISIS in Jordan, see the ITIC’s study from November 26, 2014: “ISIS: Portrait of a Jihadi Terrorist Organization,” pp. 181-186.
