Jordan army says, IS did not shoot down warplane

Jordan Thursday said initial indicators showed that the Islamic State (IS) did not shoot down the Jordanian warplane over Al Raqqah in Syria, media reported.

As it was impossible to reach the wreckage of the fighter jet and as its pilot was not present, it was difficult to identity the reason behind its fall, the state-run Petra news agency reported citing a Jordan Armed Forces statement.

The Jordan Armed Forces said Wednesday the IS had shot down a Jordanian plane and arrested its pilot in Syria.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported that the IS militants have brought down a war jet that is believed to be belonged to the international anti-terror coalition near Syria's northern al-Raqqa province. The pilot's fate remains unknown.

Mohammad Momani, minister of state for media affairs, said the government voiced solidarity with the family and tribe of the pilot captured by IS.

The pilot was part of a group of Jordanian fighter jets conducting a military mission against the IS terrorist organisation.

Jordan said Wednesday it would continue its war against terrorism and terrorist groups to defend Islam.

The US-led anti-terror coalition has been striking the IS positions in Syria since September, in which many Arab countries, including Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have participated.