Special to WorldTribune.com

NICOSIA — The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant has demonstrated anti-aircraft capabilities in Syria.

The Syrian opposition said ISIL shot down a Syrian fighter jet over the northern city of Raqqa.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights did not identify either the warplane or the anti-aircraft battery deployed by ISIL.

“It is the first aircraft shot down since the regime launched air strikes against the jihadists in July following their declaration of a caliphate in late June,” Syrian Observatory said.

Syrian Observatory said the Syrian Air Force jet was on a bombing mission when it was struck by ISIL fire on Sept. 16. The opposition group said the fighter-jet crashed into Raqqa and several people were killed.

Islamic websites aligned with ISIL confirmed the downing of the Syrian aircraft. One website posted a photograph of what was claimed to have been the downed warplane.

Opposition sources said ISIL has acquired a range of U.S.- and Russian-origin air defense systems captured from the Iraqi military. They said ISIL was also using the batteries to counter U.S. Air Force bombing
raids in northern Iraq.

  In first, ISIL, Raqqa, shoots down Syrian fighter jet, Syrian Air Force, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights