RAQQA, Syria
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) fighters have shot down a Syrian aircraft over the city of Raqqa, northeast of capital Damascus, killing eight, on Tuesday, according to the Syrian Press News Agency, linked to the opposition.
The plane dropped at least six bombs before falling into ISIL-controlled territory.
Last Thursday, militants downed another Syrian plane in Aleppo and took the pilot hostage, still according to the Syrian opposition news agency.
Syria has been plagued by quasi-constant fighting since the regime launched a violent crackdown in response to anti-government protests in March 2011.
The ensuing conflict spiraled into a civil war and has proved to become a breeding ground for Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant militants, who have since gained control of large parts of Syria and Iraq.
The U.N. has stopped updating its death toll for the country because an official count had become too difficult to verify. At least 100,000 deaths were recorded in the last official count, in July 2013.
www.aa.com.tr/en
