The war in Syria and Iraq may be intensifying if reports that former Iraqi pilots are training ISIL to fly captured Syrian military planes are proven true.

The report, compiled by a Syrian human rights watchdog, claims Iraqi pilots are training ISIL troops to fly at least three aircrafts.

Although three planes does not seem like much in the large scheme of things, it could create confusion and short-term damage to the war in Syria and Iraq. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that ISIL had been flying planes around the al-Jarrah military air base near Aleppo, according to Reuters.

"They have trainers, Iraqi officers who were pilots before for (former Iraqi president) Saddam Hussein. People saw the flights, they went up many times from the airport and they are flying in the skies outside the airport and coming back," Rami Abdulrahman, who runs the watchdog, said adding that eyewitnesses saw planes fly low for around five to 10 minutes.

ISIL uses captured military hardware and vehicles, including tanks, to bolster its strength, but this is the first time they are believed to use military aircraft. Witnesses said they either flew MIG-21s or MIG-23s.

The al-Jarrah airbase was captured last year by rebel forces from the Islamic Free Syria Movement and it was reported to have two active military planes, munitions and 40 inactive planes. However, ISIL captured the base in January, according to IHS Jane's. They add the base also contains training jets.

Nonetheless, ISIL's flying capabilities will not be sufficient to challenge U.S. and other allies' air superiority. According to the Guardian, defense analysts believe the chances of ISIL's air capabilities are slim but feasible.

Though the Iraqi pilots that defected can train ISIL soldiers to fly planes, Afzal Ashraf, a former RAF captain, counter-terrorism specialist and consultant at the London-based Royal United Services Institute, told The Guardian ISIL would find it hard to maintain high-tech planes in the air.

Speaking to Reuters, U.S. Central Command spokesman Col. Patrick Ryder said they were not aware of ISIL conducting air operations but "we continue to keep a close eye on (Islamic State) activity in Syria and Iraq and will continue to conduct strikes against their equipment, facilities, fighters and centers of gravity, wherever they may be."

However, ISIL could use rudementary flying skills to commit suicide-style attacks on military positions or infrastructure in Iraq, Syria or Kurdish-held territory.

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