MOSCOW, September 25 (RIA Novosti) – Saudi pilots involved in airstrikes on the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization have received threats on Twitter after Saudi Arabia's news agency released pictures of them, The Guardian reports.
The pilots are "wanted by IS" said one of the tweets, according to the article published in the newspaper.
Pictures of the eight pilots were published by Saudi Press Agency (SPA) Wednesday and show the airmen standing as a group and smiling. One of the pilots involved is reportedly the son of the Saudi Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
A lot of people have criticized the publication of the pictures, but there are thousands of supporters, with the crown prince among them.
Crown Prince Salman said he was "proud of the professionalism and bravery," The Guardian reported.
"The Saudi pilots returned safe and sound Tuesday morning after having accomplished their duty in carrying out successful and effective strikes against the Islamic State extremist organisation in Syria," SPA said Wednesday.
The IS, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), has been fighting against Syrian government since 2012. In June 2014, the group extended its attacks to northern and western Iraq, declaring a caliphate on the territories over which it had control.
The Unites States carried out a number of airstrikes against IS positions in Syria Tuesday. Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates also reportedly took part in the attacks. According to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least eight civilians, including three children, were killed in the strikes.
US President Barack Obama unveiled a strategy for defeating the IS on September 10. The plan includes the formation of an international coalition against the militants.
