Special to WorldTribune.com

Jihadists could endanger airline security throughout the Middle East and North Africa according to a new report.

A June 10 report by the Small Arms Survey based in Geneva said Islamists may have acquired more advanced versions of the lightweight, easy-to-use man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS).

The MANPADS which were looted from Libya have been bought from arms traffickers and have become more widespread. They have also been abandoned by Iraqi forces under attack by the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL)

“The risks associated with international trafficking of advanced MANPADS are heightened by the rise of IS (ISIL) in the Middle East and North Africa,” the report said.

“Shooting down a commercial airliner would be consistent with the group’s use of increasingly brutal acts to heighten its international profile.”

Even an unsuccessful missile attack could disrupt air travel in a particular region “at least temporarily,” the report said.

Of particular concern, according to the report, militants in Iraq and Syria “have acquired dozens” of the new generation of more advanced MANPADS.

“These systems include the Russian Ingla-S — a third generation system with an improved range, warhead, and fuse — and the Chinese FN-6, which also features several notable improvements over the first-generation MANPADS currently available in North Africa,” the report said.

As part of its $4.2 billion military deal with Moscow, Iraq has bought the Russian-made MANPADS. In its battle with ISIL, Iraq’s security forces have fled battle many times and left behind scores of the weapons.

The report also said South Sudan bought the Chinese-made MANPADS, while Sudan plans to manufacture a shoulder-fired missile similar to the Chinese FN-6.

The use of improvised batteries by militants has extended the life of older missiles looted from Libya, the report said.

  ISIL, man-portable missiles, N. Africa called threat to airline security, Report: Spread of MANPADS in Mideast