President Barack Obama and Jordanian King Abdullah II vowed not to let up in the fight against ISIL, as Jordanians mourned the death of military pilot Maaz Al Kassasbeh held captive by the militants.
Updated: February 04, 2015, 12:00 AM
Jordan mourns death of pilot killed by ISIL - in pictures
Relatives of Al Kassasbeh attend the mourning ceremony. Nasser Nasser/ AP Photo
In response to Al Kassasbeh’s brutal killing, Jordan hanged two Iraqis at dawn on Wednesdau including an Al Qaeda female militant, Sajeda Al Rishawi, whom the militants had sought the release of in exchange for a Japanese hostage they later beheaded. Muhammad Hamed/Reuters
Jordan vowed on Tuesday to avenge the killing of Al Kassasbeh, hours after a harrowing video emerged online purporting to show the caged 26-year-old F-16 fighter pilot engulfed in flames. Nasser Nasser/ AP Photo
The pilot’s gruesome death sparked outrage and street demonstrations in Jordan, where the country’s participation in the anti-ISIL coalition has not been popular. Muhammad Hamed/Reuters
Relatives of Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kasaesbeh pray at the family’s clan headquarters in the city of Karak on February 4, 2015. Muhammad Hamed/Reuters
The killing of the airman appeared aimed at pressuring the government of Jordan — a close US ally — to leave the coalition. Muhammad Hamed/Reuters