Jordan Warns Of Revenge Following Execution Of Jordanian Pilot

Following the release of a video showing the burning to death of a captured Jordanian pilot, Jordanian authorities have threatened a harsh response against the Islamic State extremist group.

A security official revealed that the al-Qaida prisoner, who was supposed to be exchanged for the captured pilot, will be executed at dawn on Wednesday. A convoy was spotted leaving the Juweideh prison, where Sajida al-Rishawi was held. It was later seen arriving at place where executions are performed, the Swaqa prison.

The video followed a failure in the negotiations between Jordan officials and ISIS on the possibility that Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh will be released in exchange for al-Rishawi. However, Jordanian TV indicated that the killing of the Lt. al-Kaseasbeh was carried out in January 3.

Mohammed al-Momani, a spokesman for the Jordanian government, revealed that the assassination of the Jordanian pilot will result to a swift, strong and decisive response from Jordan. Mamdouh al-Ameri, spokesman for the Jordanian army, also said the revenge and punishment will have the same weight as the loss of the Jordanians. He added that the military forces will ensure that the death of the pilot will not be in vain. A report from Reuters revealed that the execution of al-Rishawai will be carried out at dawn on Wednesday.

IntelCenter revealed the burning to death of the Jordanian pilot is the first time the Islamic State killed a high-profile hostage through this method. King Abdullah II of Jordan was in Washington for a scheduled visit when news came out of the execution of the pilot. He cut short his US visit after the report came out.

Image of Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh from SITE Intelligence Group

President Barack Obama said the video shows the “viciousness and barbarity” of the group if it is authentic. He added that it will increase the determination and vigilance of the global coalition to ensure the defeat of the group. The Islamic State captured Al-Kaseasbeh after he was forced to eject from his plane in December. He was a part of a US-led coalition that conducted airstrikes against the group last year.

Protests started to erupt in Amman and Ai, the home village of the pilot. Demonstrators went to the streets and chanted against Abdullah. The video of the execution came on the same day an agreement promoting economic development and regional security was signed by Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh and US Secretary of State John Kerry.

Kerry said the death of al-Kaseasbeh shows that ISIS has no other agenda aside from killing and destroying, and they do not value life, including the lives of fellow Muslims.

The video lasts over twenty-two minuets and shows media footage demonstrating the participation of Jordan in the US-led coalition against the Islamic State. It also shows homes and buildings damaged by the coalition and al-Kaseasbeh amid ISIS fighters.

The last few minutes of the video shows the Jordanian pilot inside a cage with flammable liquid on the ground. A fighter lights up the liquid from around 20 yards away from the cage. The flames quickly consume the caged man.

Image of the execution of Lt. Moaz al-Kasasbeh from the SITE Intelligence Group

The release of the video comes after the beheading of Kenji Goto, a Japanese video journalist captured by ISIS last October. The group initially demanded $200 million for the release of Goto and another Japanese citizen held by the group, Haruna Yukawa.

However, after images of the decapitated body of Yukawa were released by ISIS, the group changed its demand and called for the release of al-Rishawi in exchange for the life of the Jordanian pilot.

Posted by James Fried on Wednesday February 04 2015, 10:03 AM EDT. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under World. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0