Islamic State releases video showing Jordanian pilot being burnt alive
Days after the execution of Japanese reporter Kenji Goto, the Islamic State published a video allegedly showing the captured Jordanian pilot being set on fire.
Feb 03, 2015, 08:30PM | Tom Dolev
Photo from the execution Photo Credit: Channel 2 News
The Islamic State (IS) published a video this evening (Tue) allegedly showing the recently captured Jordanian pilot Mu'ath Safi Yousef al-Kaseasbeh being burnt alive. Last week, the Turkish news agency “Anadol” reported that Syrian Rebel sources claimed US commando tried to rescue the pilot. Only last Saturday, a second Japanese captive was beheaded, journalist Kenji Goto. A video titled “A message to the Japanese Government” shows Goto kneeling on his knees next to “John the Jihadist”, who then slits his throat until the Japanese journalist dies.From what is known, al-Kaseasbeh was hidden in a private home in the city of Raqqa, one of the refuges of the deadly terror organization. Syrian Rebel sources claimed that the US and its allies bombed IS targets in the area, in order to divert attention and allow two helicopters carrying US commando fighters to get closer to the scene. Jordanian television reported that the execution of the Jordanian pilot took place exactly one month ago, on the 3rd of January. The Jordanian Army’s Chief of Staff informed the pilot’s family of his death, reported a family member to the Reuters News Agency.
The sources claimed that the helicopters tried to land next to a private home in Raqqa, but had to flee the area due to heavy fire from the ground. The details have not been confirmed by any other source. There were, however, reports in Syria of “aerial activity of irregular scope” in the area. This week, IS published an interview with the Jordanian pilot in the “Dabiq” newspaper, owned by the organization. In quotes attributed to al-Kaseasbeh, he claims that his aircraft was shot down by a heat-seeking missile. Western forces cast doubt on the credibility of the interview.
“A message to the Japanese Government”. Kenji Goto Photo Credit: Channel 2 News
The capturing of the Jordanian pilot was reported a week before that, with IS claiming they had sunk one of the Coalition Against IS’s fighter jets. Jordan then confirmed that it was in fact a Jordanian pilot who was captured. The US-lead Coalition Against IS has committed several hundreds of attacks against IS targets in the past 3 months. Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE officially joined these attacks, with Qatar providing logistical aid.
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ISIS 'BARBARITY': Terrorist video shows Jordanian pilot burned alive
NEW INTERNET VIDEO shows ISIS terrorists burning alive captured Jordanian pilot Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh — an act that reportedly has prompted Jordan to ready the execution of an unknown number of terrorist prisoners. The 22-minute video, which Jordan said is authentic, brought a grisly end to speculation into the fate of Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh, 26, who was captured when his plane crashed during a bombing mission in Syria Dec. 24. The video, which reports said could have been made more than a month ago, shows the pilot standing in a cage with a line of fuel leading to him, which is then ignited, causing him to burst into flames. Islamic State had previously sought to trade Al-Kaseasbeh for Sajida al-Rishawi, an Iraqi woman who is in a Jordanian prison for her role in a 2005 suicide bomb attack that killed 60 people in Amman. "It's just one more indication of the viciousness and barbarity of this organization," said President Obama, who planned to meet Tuesday evening with Jordan's King Abdullah, who was in Washington. "And I think it will redouble the vigilance and determination on the part of the global coalition to make sure that they are degraded and ultimately defeated.”
"This horrific, savage killing is yet another example of ISIL's contempt for life itself."
- Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel
Several media outlets reported that Jordan moved swiftly following the video's surfacing, transferring at least three imprisoned jihadists, including al-Rishawi and Ziad Al-Karbuli, a former aide to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the Jordanian Al Qaeda operative who was killed in 2006, in preparation for execution, perhaps within hours. Lebanon-based news channel Al Mayadeen nreported that Jordan intends to execute Al-Rishawi at dawn on Wednesday.
Jordan had shown a willingness to make the exchange, but had sought proof that its pilot was still alive. Dubai-based TV news channel Al Arabiya reported that the Jordanian military had notified al-Kaseasbeh's family that he had been killed and Jordanian TV reported the pilot killed Jan. 3.
In the video, viewed by Fox News, Al-Kaseasbeh, clad in an orange jumpsuit, speaks under clear duress. A narrator speaking in Arabic blasts Arab nations, including Jordan, for taking part in U.S.-led airstrikes against Islamic State. The final five minutes of the video show the caged pilot, his clothing apparently doused in gasoline as the fuel is lit. His screams are audible as he collapses to his knees. After being killed, the burned man and the cage are buried by a bulldozer. The video ends with ISIS offering "100 golden Dinars" for any Muslims in Jordan who kill other Jordanian pilots, whose names, pictures and hometowns are shown.
U.S. National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said administration officials are examining the video.
The 22-minute video, which Jordan said is authentic, brought a grisly end to speculation into the fate of Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh, 26, who was captured when his plane crashed during a bombing mission in Syria Dec. 24. The video, which reports said could have been made more than a month ago, shows the pilot standing in a cage with a line of fuel leading to him, which is then ignited, causing him to burst into flames. Islamic State had previously sought to trade Al-Kaseasbeh for Sajida al-Rishawi, an Iraqi woman who is in a Jordanian prison for her role in a 2005 suicide bomb attack that killed 60 people in Amman.
"It's just one more indication of the viciousness and barbarity of this organization," said President Obama, who planned to meet Tuesday evening with Jordan's King Abdullah, who was in Washington. "And I think it will redouble the vigilance and determination on the part of the global coalition to make sure that they are degraded and ultimately defeated.”
"This horrific, savage killing is yet another example of ISIL's contempt for life itself."- Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel
U.S. National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said administration officials are examining the video.
CIA and counter-terrorism analysts noted the tape follows a pattern familiar in ISIS clips. It features news clips of the Jordanian king with sound of coalition strikes and ground operations. Sources told Fox News it demonstrated the highest production values of any tape to date, suggesting it took considerable time to shoot and produce.
Release of the video follows days of intense protests by Jordanians outside King Abdullah’s palace over the government's refusal to agree on a prisoner swap with the terror group. Many Jordanians as well as the pilot’s family are faulting Amman – not ISIS – for allowing their country to be drawn into a "war" they claim is one between the Islamic State and the U.S. and its allies. Demonstrators outside the gates of the royal palace have cried out, “Abdullah, why are we fighting?” while other Jordanian protesters have taken to social media, creating an Arabic hashtag on Twitter that reads #NotOurWar.
The horrific footage surfaced just a day after top Islamic State leaders warned against social media disclosures of the terror army's activities that were not sanctioned by ISIS leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi or the group's spokesman, Mohammad al-Adnani. It also came just hours after Secretary of State John Kerry met with King Abdullah and Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh in Washington.
On Saturday, an online video surfaced that appeared to show Islamic State executing Japanese journalist Kenji Goto. And one week earlier, a video posted on the Internet showed the Islamist terror group delivering the same fate to another Japanese hostage, Haruna Yukawa.
Fox News' Catherine Herridge and Nadiah Sarsour contributed to this report.
The 22-minute video, which Jordan said is authentic, brought a grisly end to speculation into the fate of Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh, 26, who was captured when his plane crashed during a bombing mission in Syria Dec. 24. The video, which reports said could have been made more than a month ago, shows the pilot standing in a cage with a line of fuel leading to him, which is then ignited, causing him to burst into flames. Islamic State had previously sought to trade Al-Kaseasbeh for Sajida al-Rishawi, an Iraqi woman who is in a Jordanian prison for her role in a 2005 suicide bomb attack that killed 60 people in Amman.
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| A FATHER'S PLEA FOR CLEMENCY |
"It's just one more indication of the viciousness and barbarity of this organization," said President Obama, who planned to meet Tuesday evening with Jordan's King Abdullah, who was in Washington. "And I think it will redouble the vigilance and determination on the part of the global coalition to make sure that they are degraded and ultimately defeated.”
"This horrific, savage killing is yet another example of ISIL's contempt for life itself."- Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel
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Jordan said it will execute Sajida al-Rishawi, who is on death row for her role in a 2005 suicide bomb attack that killed 60 people in Amman, in response to the execution of Mouath al-Kasaesbeh. Islamic State had originally demanded Rishawi's release in return for the life of Japanese hostage Kenji Goto. A government spokesman said in a statement that Jordan would deliver a "strong, earth-shaking and decisive" response. "The revenge will be as big as the calamity that has hit Jordan," army spokesman Colonel Mamdouh al Ameri said in a televised statement confirming the death of the pilot, who was captured in December when his plane crashed over Syria.
US Vice President Joe Biden met with Jordan's King Abdullah on Tuesday and "reinforcedAmerica's ironclad support" for Jordan and its role in the coalition fighting Islamic State militants, the White House said. Biden offered his condolences to the family of al-Kasaesbeh, and called for the release of hostages held by Islamic State.
A video released online on Tuesday showed his murder from multiple angles. Apparently soaked in an accelerant, a line of fire approaches a barred pen, encircles the prisoner and consumes him.
Al-Kasaesbeh was captured by Islamic State on December 24, 2014 after his warplane was downed in northeastern Syria on Wednesday. He was the first captive taken from the US-led coalition battling the jihadi group.
Michael Wilner contributed to this report.
Jordan said it will execute Sajida al-Rishawi, who is on death row for her role in a 2005 suicide bomb attack that killed 60 people in Amman, in response to the execution of Mouath al-Kasaesbeh. Islamic State had originally demanded Rishawi's release in return for the life of Japanese hostage Kenji Goto. A government spokesman said in a statement that Jordan would deliver a "strong, earth-shaking and decisive" response. "The revenge will be as big as the calamity that has hit Jordan," army spokesman Colonel Mamdouh al Ameri said in a televised statement confirming the death of the pilot, who was captured in December when his plane crashed over Syria.
US Vice President Joe Biden met with Jordan's King Abdullah on Tuesday and "reinforcedAmerica's ironclad support" for Jordan and its role in the coalition fighting Islamic State militants, the White House said. Biden offered his condolences to the family of al-Kasaesbeh, and called for the release of hostages held by Islamic State.
A video released online on Tuesday showed his murder from multiple angles. Apparently soaked in an accelerant, a line of fire approaches a barred pen, encircles the prisoner and consumes him.
Al-Kasaesbeh was captured by Islamic State on December 24, 2014 after his warplane was downed in northeastern Syria on Wednesday. He was the first captive taken from the US-led coalition battling the jihadi group.
Michael Wilner contributed to this report.
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