Jordan kills 55 IS militants after pilot is burned to death
Jordan has carried out a series of deadly air strikes against Islamic State, a day after the extremist group released a video showing the horrific murder of a captive Jordanian pilot.
Local media reports 55 insurgents, including a top IS commander known as the ‘Prince of Nineveh,’ have been killed.
In the 20-minute video, 26-year-old Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh is shown standing inside a cage wearing an orange jumpsuit.
He appears to have been badly beaten.
In the final moments, a masked militant lights a trail of petrol leading inside the cage and then stands back to watch as the young pilot burns to death.
The video has unleashed a wave of outrage around the world, with Jordanian king Abdullah II declaring there would be a ‘severe’ response.
“The blood of martyr Maaz al-Kassasbeh will not be in vain, and the response of Jordan and its army after what happened to our dear son will be severe,” the King said in a statement.
On Wednesday, Jordan executed two al-Qaeda prisoners, including a failed female suicide bomber, both of whom were hanged.
The King also vowed to further increase Jordan's role in the U-S led coalition against IS.
