Jordanian officials are considering sending troops on the ground in Syria to fight the Islamic State (Isis) militants following the horrific execution of Jordanian pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh.
Hinting on the move, Washington Post foreign correspondent, William Booth, tweeted from the Jordanian capital Amman on Wednesday (4 February) saying an “escalation” is imminent.
Jordan legislators say “stage is set for escalation” in fight against ISIS, don’t rule out use of ground troops & special forces in Syria.
A second Washington Post correspondent from Amman, Taylor Luck, also tweeted hinting on a possible ground attack.
#Jordan officials, MPs: dispatch of Jordanian ground troops to #Syria “next logical step” after Islamic State killing of Jordanian pilot — Taylor Luck يوسف لاك (@Taylor_Luck) February 4, 2015
None of the journalists, however, revealed their source or named specific government officials.
Jordan, a member of the US-led coalition, carrying out air strikes to defeat IS, has promised an “earth-shaking” response in the wake of the brutal Kasasbeh execution video.
So far, Jordan has executed two convicts in retaliation –female suicide bomber, Sajida al-Rishawi, and an Iraqi member of al-Qaeda, Ziad al-Karbouly.
Al-Rishawi, 44, was held captive after she attempted to detonate an explosives belt as part of the 2005 hotel bombings in Amman.
Jordanian pilot’s father: IS ‘wild beasts’
In other developments, the Jordanian pilot’s father Safi al-Kasasbeh condemned his son’s murder and called IS “wild beasts”.
Speaking to Sky News, Safi said: “My feeling is that of every father – I am mourning my own son. The whole world, the Arab world, the Jordanian society is mourning with me.
“What they did is more than criminal – it’s never been seen before in history. Even animals couldn’t do this – they are wild beasts, they have no connection to Islam. They are not human beings let alone Muslims.”
Jordanian pilot’s brother speaks out
Speaking to Gulf News, the brother of the Jordanian pilot, Jawdat Kasasbeh said: “A large number of Jordanians used to sympathise with them [Isis] because they claimed to follow the principles of Islam. But thankfully, what happened to my brother has proven to the world, and especially to the Jordanian people, that [Isis] is nothing but a terrorist, criminal organisation — and it should be stopped.
“Jordanians are backing the coalition and I will be volunteering and working with them. My message to the Jordanian government: we are all your soldiers and will fully support your involvement. You lead the way and we will follow.”
Kaseasbeh, 26, was captured by IS after his F-16 plane crashed near Raqqa, Syria last year in December.
