Islamic State learning to fly: report

They've proven themselves on the ground, seizing parts of Syria and Iraq -- now Islamic State militants are taking the fight to the sky.

Iraqi pilots are reportedly teaching IS militants to fly warplanes like these --- captured from al-Jarrah military base in northwest Syria.

Locals say they've seen three different jets taking off from here on a daily basis, according to a new report by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

If true, it's a game changer. A ground battle can be bloody. Air strikes, like those carried out by Syria and now U.S. forces, allow attackers to deliver maximum damage with limited risk. A steep learning curve and high cost have made air power a government's greatest advantage over the guerilla group.

The U.S military however says it cannot confirm the reports that Islamic State has started test flights.