WASHINGTON, October 27 (RIA Novosti) – The US Department of Defense confirmed that the Islamic State (IS) has limited anti-aircraft weaponry in its arsenal, Commander Elissa Smith at the Office of the Secretary of Defense told RIA Novosti on Monday.
“We can confirm ISIL [IS] has limited anti-aircraft artillery capability, mostly used in a ground combat role. Regardless, we have a thorough process and take all necessary action to mitigate anti-aircraft artillery risks,” Smith said.
Smith said there would be no speculation regarding if IS had man portable air-defense systems (MANPADs). Unlike anti-aircraft artillery which can be attached to a vehicle, MANPADs can be transported and utilized by a single person.
“We have no evidence that definitively determines [that IS] possesses or has used MANPADs, and we can’t speculate about weapons systems ISIL has captured,” Smith said.
Last week Pentagon Spokesman Adm. John Kirby said the US military did not believe IS had any anti-aircraft weaponry.
The group calling itself the Islamic State is also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria or (ISIS) and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). In late June, IS announced the establishment of a caliphate on the territories it had captured in Iraq and Syria. In August of this year, the US-led coalition force began a series of airstrikes against IS forces in Iraq and Syria.
