ISIS Burns Captured Jordanian Pilot Alive
The terrorist group calling itself the Islamic State has released another horrendous execution video in which the killing of a downed Jordanian pilot was captured.
The New York Times reports that the video shows First Lt. Moaz al Kasasbeh being burned alive in a cage after a terrorist touches a flame to Kasasbeh's clothes, which appeared to be covered in flammable liquid.
The message may have been intended to send a message to Middle Eastern government participating in a US led coalition conducting air strikes on ISIS positions in Syria and Iraq. While Kasasbeh isn't the first hostage ISIS has publicly executed, he was the first Arab and the only one not to be beheaded. The dramatic, slow, inhumane, and graphic nature of Kasasbeh's death may have been meant to dissuade regional governments from fighting ISIS.
Kasasbeh is the first casualty of the international coalition in the fight against ISIS.
When the video was made has not been determined, but some on Twitter suggest the killing took place more than a month ago.
The killing of #Jordan-ian pilot #Muath Kasasbeh was reported almost a month ago - but largely unnoticed or ignored pic.twitter.com/R8yqP96xDf
— Mureed Hammad (@mureedhammad) February 3, 2015
If true, it would be a huge intelligence failure on behalf of Jordan and the United States, which were previously open to a prisoner swap where Jordan would free a jihadist in its custody in exchange for the pilot.
The International Business Times reports that Jordan has said it will execute the prisoner sought by ISIS, Sajida al-Rishawi, in retaliation for the pilot's death.
It is also Jordan may choose to expand its military involvement in the battle against ISIS.
Rishawi was part of a failed suicide bombing plot she carried out with her husband. Her husband was able to detonate his explosive device in Amman, Jordan, in 2005, while hers failed to detonate.
