U.S. Extends Condolences on the Murder of Jordanian Pilot
By Rakesh Raman
The U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, in a statement released Tuesday, extended his condolences to the family of Royal Jordanian Air Force pilot First Lieutenant Moaz al-Kassasbeh, who “was brutally murdered after being taken captive by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terrorists.”
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS or ISIL) has released a video which claims the terrorists have burnt alive its hostage – a Jordanian pilot Moaz al-Kassasbeh after locking him in a cage.
Earlier, ISIS had agreed to release the pilot if Jordan released the convicted terrorist Sajida al-Rishawi. The Jordanian government had agreed for the swap. However, a few hours before the release of Ms. Rishawi, Jordan asked ISIS to provide it with proof of life of its pilot – a proof that he is still alive.
But ISIS didn’t respond. Now it’s reported that the terrorists had, in fact, killed the pilot about a month ago, although they released the information about the murder publically now. That’s why they couldn’t provide the proof that he was alive.
As the prisoner swap didn’t happen, the fate of Moaz al-Kassasbeh was not clear. Plus, Jordan had threatened that if ISIS killed Moaz al-Kassasbeh, it would retaliate by executing all ISIS prisoners.
Fox News reports that Jordan has executed two prisoners – Sajida al-Rishawi and Ziad al-Karbouli – early today.
Hagel said the “horrific, savage killing is yet another example of ISIL’s contempt for life itself.”
By Rakesh Raman, the managing editor of RMN Company
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