ISIS Demands Jordan Leave Coalition Fight And Release Prisoners In Exchange For Captured Pilot
The Islamic State group listed several demands it wants Jordan to meet in exchange for the release of the pilot captured when his plane crashed near the Syrian city of Raqqa. The Sunni militant group has demanded Jordan stop fighting with the U.S.-led coalition and release several prisoners in exchange for the pilot, regional media reported Sunday.
Reports surfaced Thursday ISIS shot down a Jordanian plane and captured its pilot. Regional news outlets later said Muath al-Kassasbeh, 26, a first lieutenant in Jordan’s air force, was captured by the Islamic State group Wednesday near the Syrian city of Raqqa. Kassasbeh was identified as the pilot of an F-16 jet.
This is the first time ISIS has demanded a member of the U.S.-led coalition drop out of the fight. Reports on Twitter Sunday said ISIS was set to release a video to announce its demands formally.
American and Jordanian officials have said ISIS did not shoot down the aircraft, that the plane crashed because of a technical problem. The U.S. Central Command, or Centcom, said in a statement, “Evidence clearly indicates that [ISIS] did not down the aircraft.”
Jordan warned ISIS not to hurt the pilot. The Jordanian parliament said there would be “grave consequences" if the pilot is harmed.
The Turkish newspaper Hurriyet Daily News reported Sunday Jordan asked Turkey for help in locating and rescuing the captured pilot. The report said Jordanian officials contacted Turkey through the embassy in Amman. Both Turkey and Jordan are members of the U.S.-led coalition fighting ISIS in Syria and Iraq. Jordan has provided the coalition with both air support and intelligence and Turkey is currently allowing coalition forces to operate from its bases on the border with Syria.
The Islamic State group listed several demands it wants Jordan to meet in exchange for the release of the pilot captured when his plane crashed near the Syrian city of Raqqa. The Sunni militant group has demanded Jordan stop fighting with the U.S.-led coalition and release several prisoners in exchange for the pilot, regional media reported Sunday.
Reports surfaced Thursday ISIS shot down a Jordanian plane and captured its pilot. Regional news outlets later said Muath al-Kassasbeh, 26, a first lieutenant in Jordan’s air force, was captured by the Islamic State group Wednesday near the Syrian city of Raqqa. Kassasbeh was identified as the pilot of an F-16 jet.
This is the first time ISIS has demanded a member of the U.S.-led coalition drop out of the fight. Reports on Twitter Sunday said ISIS was set to release a video to announce its demands formally.
American and Jordanian officials have said ISIS did not shoot down the aircraft, that the plane crashed because of a technical problem. The U.S. Central Command, or Centcom, said in a statement, “Evidence clearly indicates that [ISIS] did not down the aircraft.”
Jordan warned ISIS not to hurt the pilot. The Jordanian parliament said there would be “grave consequences" if the pilot is harmed.
The Turkish newspaper Hurriyet Daily News reported Sunday Jordan asked Turkey for help in locating and rescuing the captured pilot. The report said Jordanian officials contacted Turkey through the embassy in Amman. Both Turkey and Jordan are members of the U.S.-led coalition fighting ISIS in Syria and Iraq. Jordan has provided the coalition with both air support and intelligence and Turkey is currently allowing coalition forces to operate from its bases on the border with Syria.
