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IS Video Purports to Show Jordanian Pilot's Killing

by VOA News February 03, 2015

New photos surfaced on social media on Tuesday that appear to show captured Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kaseasbeh being burned to death in a cage.

In the gruesome photos, circulated by supporters of the Islamic State militant group and which have not yet been independently verified, al-Kaseasbeh appears to be alive as his body is covered in flames.

According to Jordanian State television, Jordan confirmed the pilot's death and said he was killed on January 3.

The Jordanian military condemned the killing and vowed it would not go unpunished.

A family member of the pilot told Reuters that the chief of Jordan's armed forces informed the family he had been killed.

U.S. condemnation

U.S. President Barack Obama said Tuesday that if the video is authenticated, it would be another sign of the 'viciousness and barbarity' of the militant group.

'Whatever ideology they're operating off of, it's bankrupt,' Obama told reporters, noting the incident would redouble the determination of the U.S.-led coalition fighting the group in Syria and Iraq.

U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Bernadette Meehan said the intelligence community is working to confirm the video's authenticity.

'The United States strongly condemns ISIL's [Islamic State] actions and we call for the immediate release of all those held captive by ISIL,' she said. 'We stand in solidarity with the government of Jordan and the Jordanian people.'

U.S. Central Command chief, General Lloyd Austin also condemned the killing.

'This vicious act is yet another example of ISIL or 'Daesh's' [Islamic State] brutality and warped ideology,' Gen. Austin said in a statement. 'First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with his family. I spoke with General Mashal al-Zaben, Chief of Staff of the Jordanian Armed Forces and assured him that we stand with our Jordanian partners and together we will fight this barbaric enemy until it is defeated.'

The news comes just as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry appealed again Tuesday for the safe return of the Jordanian pilot.

'The people of Jordan need to know that all Americans will join with them in praying for the early and safe return of Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh [the captured pilot],' Kerry said after signing a new agreement for U.S. aid to Jordan Tuesday alongside Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh.

Hostage negotiations

The pilot had been at the center of a complex prisoner and hostage exchange involving Jordan, Japan and an Iraqi insurgent on death row in Jordan.

Amman on Monday had renewed its pledge to release the prisoner, Sajida al-Rishawi, if given proof that the pilot was still alive. The effort came in the aftermath of the jihadists' beheading of a two Japanese journalists.

Kaseasbeh was captured after his jet crashed in Syria last year. He had been taking part in the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State, the extremist group which holds large areas in Iraq and Syria.

The new U.S. memorandum of understanding signed Tuesday with Jordan also comes as the Middle Eastern nation struggles to support hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees.

Kerry said the U.S. will now provide $1 billion a year to Jordan through 2017. He said that covers economic, technical and security support and represents an increase from the past five years, when the U.S. gave $600 million a year through the memorandum.

Kerry said the U.S. is also adding to the $467 million it has already contributed to help Jordan care for refugees from both Syria and Iraq, as well as extending loan guarantees to Amman.

'Increased need means a requirement for increased help, ' he said, following a meeting with both Judeh and Jordan's King Abdullah II.

Judeh described the new agreement as 'another milestone' in the strategic partnership between the U.S. and Jordan, saying U.S. assistance to Jordan 'has proved instrumental' to the success of the nation's development and reform program.

'At this time of peril and turbulence -- what's new in our part of the world? -- Jordan again is committed to the promotion of stability and peace and security in a region where peace and stability and security have eluded us for many, many years,' Judeh said.

Jeff Seldin and Carla Babb contributed to this report from Washington.