Feb 4, 2015

Jordan vows 'severe response' to IS

Jordan's King Abdullah II has promised to fight back hard against Islamic State, saying that the death of a Jordanian pilot at the militants' hands will not be in vain.

The remarks were made as the king held a crisis meeting with security chiefs.

He cut short a US trip after IS posted a video showing pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh being burned alive.

Jordan executed two convicts, including failed female suicide bomber Sajida al-Rishawi, in response.

Lt Kasasbeh was seized after crashing during a bombing mission by the US-led coalition over Syria in December.

Jordan had sought to secure Lt Kasasbeh's release in a swap involving Rishawi, but IS is believed to have killed him a month ago.

The BBC's Paul Adams in Amman says talk of an exchange appears to have been an IS tactic to string Jordan along and foster doubt among Jordanians over its role in the US-led coalition.

'Undermine and degrade'

The king was greeted by a crowd of several thousand people at Jordan's main airport on his return from the US, with many holding up pictures of the monarch and the country's flag in a show of support.

After a meeting with security chiefs, AFP news agency quoted him as saying in a statement: "The blood of martyr Moaz al-Kasasbeh will not be in vain and the response of Jordan and its army after what happened to our dear son will be severe."

Meanwhile government spokesman Mohamed al-Momani said a collaborative effort was needed between members of the US-led coalition to "undermine, degrade and eventually finish [Islamic State]".

"This evil can and should be defeated," he said, adding that Jordan was "more determined than ever" to fight the militant group.

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