Moaz al-Kasasbeh
A man purported to be Islamic State captive Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kasaesbeh is seen standing in a cage in this still image from an undated video filmed from an undisclosed location made available on social media on February 3, 2015. Islamic State militants released the video on Tuesday purporting to show Kasaesbeh being burnt alive, and Jordanian state television said he was murdered a month ago. Reuters could not immediately confirm the video, which showed a man resembling the captive pilot standing in a black cage before being set ablaze. Reuters

Jordan will avenge the death of its pilot, 26-year-old 1st Lieutenant Moaz al-Kasasbeh, who was apparently burned alive by the Islamic State (IS), by announcing the execution within hours of six prisoners it holds who are linked with the terror organisation.

Included in the six is Sajida al-Rishawi, the female suicide bomber captured by Jordan in 2005 after a failed bombing attempt which nevertheless killed people in a Jordanian hotel, reports Daily Mail.

Video released by the IS, titled Healing the Believers’ Cheat, showed that al-Kasasbeh, whose F-16 plane crashed in December in Syria near the Raqqa headquarters of IS, leading to his capture by the extremist group, was caged and then torched alive.

The pilot wore an orange jumpsuit similar to what beheaded American, British and Japanese captives had before they were executed. The video shows a trail of petrol leading to the iron cage where al-Kasasbeh is kept lit. Flames then spread. After the person inside was charred, the IS poured debris on the cage which was flattened by a bulldozer.

When the IS proposed a prisoner swap for Japanese hostage Kenji Goto, it sought the release of Sajida from a Jordanian prison. Jordan wanted instead the release of al-Kasasbeh and sought proof from IS that he is still alive.

The IS failed to show proof and the deadlines lapsed, leading to the decapitation of Goto on Sunday.

The incident made Jordanians, who were divided on supporting the US-led Coalition, rally behind the government and condemn the IS for its brutality. Now, they have to add double-dealing because the pilot has been dead and they still used him to secure the release of Sajida.

The family of al-Kasasbeh believes the video is genuine, which was confirmed by Mamdouh al-Ameri, the spokesman of the Jordanian armed forces, said in a televised address, “While the military forces mourn the martyr, they emphasis his blood will not be shed in vain. The revenge will be as big as the calamity that has hit Jordan.”

Jordanian King Abdullah, who is in the US, called the pilot’s murder a cowardly act of terror. US President Barack Obama said the video is evidence of the IS’s viciousness and barbarity, while British Prime Minister David Cameron condemned the sickening murder.

To contact the writer, email: v.hernandez@ibtimes.com.au

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