The Jordanian government has vowed that ISIS will pay for burning one of its pilots to death.
Now, they’ve followed through on that promise — twice.
For the second straight day, Jordanian F-16 fighter jets conducted intensive airstrikes targeting ISIS in Syria, according to a U.S. official. They were accompanied by U.S. warplanes, including F-18s, F-22s and A-10 aircraft — the latter being there ready to swoop down and help rescue a pilot, should his plane crash — the official said.
That’s what happened to Lt. Moath al-Kasasbeh on December 24 as he flew a mission, as part of the U.S.-led military coalition, near ISIS’ de facto capital of Raqqa.
Before Jordan and any of its allies could get to him, ISIS did. He was later executed, according to video posted Tuesday, although Jordanian authorities said it likely happened in early January.
The pilot’s death, and the horrific manner in which it happened, spurred outrage in Jordan and beyond. That was evident again Friday, with Jordanians taking to the streets after prayers to condemn the terrorist group.
King Abdullah II and other Jordanian officials have promised to step up their campaign against ISIS. Safi al-Kasasbeh, Moath’s father, said the King told him that 30 Jordanian warplanes participated in Thursday’s strikes in Syria.
It wasn’t immediately clear how many took part in Friday’s strikes, though they did prove that this mission, dubbed “Moath the Martyr,” is not a one-day affair.
Military beats war drums
Public war drum rhetoric accompanied the jets’ roar.
“This is just the beginning, and you shall know who the Jordanians are,” the armed forces said in a statement on state TV.
Retaliation for the pilot’s cruel killing was just getting started, Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh told CNN. And it was being added to the fight against terrorism.
“We are upping the ante. We’re going after them wherever they are, with everything that we have,” Judeh said. He vowed to destroy ISIS.
ISIS photographs destruction
Jordan is one of a handful of Middle Eastern nations taking part in the U.S.-led military coalition against ISIS. The air campaign continued Thursday with strikes elsewhere in Syria, including near Hasaka, about 150 miles (240 kilometers) northeast of Raqqa.
ISIS posted photos of the destruction, and Syrian Observatory for Human Rights director Rami Abdurrahman reported that 10 militants were killed.
Jordan executed prisoners
Jordan has also retaliated at home. On Wednesday, the country executed two prisoners close to ISIS:
• Sajida al-Rishawi was a would-be suicide bomber whose release ISIS had previously demanded in exchange for al-Kasasbeh and another hostage.
• Ziad Karbouli was a former top aide to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the deceased leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, an ISIS forerunner.
