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| Jordan executes 2 prisoners after pilot burned alive by Islamic State | Jordan executes 2 prisoners after pilot burned alive by Islamic State |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| AMMAN, Jordan — In a swift and severe response, Jordan authorities executed at dawn Wednesday two Iraqi terror convicts just hours after Islamic State militants released a video showing a Jordanian pilot burned to death in a cage. | AMMAN, Jordan — In a swift and severe response, Jordan authorities executed at dawn Wednesday two Iraqi terror convicts just hours after Islamic State militants released a video showing a Jordanian pilot burned to death in a cage. |
| The hangings underscored the hardening stance by officials in Jordan, a key U.S. ally in the fight against the Islamic State, amid street protests calling for revenge against the militant group. | The hangings underscored the hardening stance by officials in Jordan, a key U.S. ally in the fight against the Islamic State, amid street protests calling for revenge against the militant group. |
| The backlash from the video — released while Jordan’s King Abdullah II was holding talks in Washington — also threatened to draw the usually cautious monarch toward ever more direct confrontation with radical Islamists. | The backlash from the video — released while Jordan’s King Abdullah II was holding talks in Washington — also threatened to draw the usually cautious monarch toward ever more direct confrontation with radical Islamists. |
| [The chilling reason the Islamic State burned the pilot alive] | [The chilling reason the Islamic State burned the pilot alive] |
| Jordan’s chief government spokesman said the two prisoners executed included Sajida al-Rishawi, an Iraqi woman convicted for her role in a deadly 2005 terrorist attack in Amman. The Islamic State had sought her release as part of a possible prisoner swap. | Jordan’s chief government spokesman said the two prisoners executed included Sajida al-Rishawi, an Iraqi woman convicted for her role in a deadly 2005 terrorist attack in Amman. The Islamic State had sought her release as part of a possible prisoner swap. |
| The other inmate was Ziad al-Karbouli, who was linked to a terrorist attack against Jordanians in Iraq in 2005 and whose freedom was also demanded by the Islamic State. | The other inmate was Ziad al-Karbouli, who was linked to a terrorist attack against Jordanians in Iraq in 2005 and whose freedom was also demanded by the Islamic State. |
| The executions were carried out less than 12 hours after the video was posted online. | The executions were carried out less than 12 hours after the video was posted online. |
| Rishawi had been on death row for her role in a triple hotel bombing in the Jordanian capital that killed 60 people. Jordan had offered to free her in exchange for the pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh, and a Japanese journalist, Kenji Goto, held by the Islamic State. | Rishawi had been on death row for her role in a triple hotel bombing in the Jordanian capital that killed 60 people. Jordan had offered to free her in exchange for the pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh, and a Japanese journalist, Kenji Goto, held by the Islamic State. |
| But hopes collapsed when the Islamic State released a video Saturday showing the beheading of the reporter. | But hopes collapsed when the Islamic State released a video Saturday showing the beheading of the reporter. |
| After the latest gruesome video surfaced Tuesday, Jordanian officials said the pilot was murdered a month ago — long before the militants warned last week that he would be “killed immediately” if Jordan did not release Rishawi in exchange for Goto. Jordan continued to demand “proof of life” evidence of the 26-year-old pilot’s well-being earlier this week from the Islamic State, an al-Qaeda offshoot also known as ISIS or ISIL. | After the latest gruesome video surfaced Tuesday, Jordanian officials said the pilot was murdered a month ago — long before the militants warned last week that he would be “killed immediately” if Jordan did not release Rishawi in exchange for Goto. Jordan continued to demand “proof of life” evidence of the 26-year-old pilot’s well-being earlier this week from the Islamic State, an al-Qaeda offshoot also known as ISIS or ISIL. |
| Voices that last week were calling for Jordan to withdraw from the U.S.-led offensive against the Islamic State were suddenly silent as Jordanians came together to denounce the militants. | Voices that last week were calling for Jordan to withdraw from the U.S.-led offensive against the Islamic State were suddenly silent as Jordanians came together to denounce the militants. |
| “This terrible act has created tremendous unity in Jordan,” said Jawad Anani, a senator and former foreign minister. “Ordinary Jordanians now see the threat to their own security.” | “This terrible act has created tremendous unity in Jordan,” said Jawad Anani, a senator and former foreign minister. “Ordinary Jordanians now see the threat to their own security.” |
| Anani, who is close to King Abdullah and formerly served as chief of the royal court, raised the possibility that Jordanian ground troops or special forces might be deployed in Syria. | Anani, who is close to King Abdullah and formerly served as chief of the royal court, raised the possibility that Jordanian ground troops or special forces might be deployed in Syria. |
| “The next logical step, you can intensify the conflict,” Anani said. | “The next logical step, you can intensify the conflict,” Anani said. |
| But others doubt whether the current backlash will stir major changes in Muslim participation in the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. | But others doubt whether the current backlash will stir major changes in Muslim participation in the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. |
| “The killing’s impact on the coalition will not really be a game-changer because the participation of countries depends on a variety of issues that are specific to each country,” said Elias Hanna, a retired Lebanese general who teaches geopolitics at the American University of Beirut. | “The killing’s impact on the coalition will not really be a game-changer because the participation of countries depends on a variety of issues that are specific to each country,” said Elias Hanna, a retired Lebanese general who teaches geopolitics at the American University of Beirut. |
| “We won’t see Arab boots on the ground,” he predicted. “That’s for certain.” | “We won’t see Arab boots on the ground,” he predicted. “That’s for certain.” |
| In his first public statement since the video, Safi al-Kaseasbeh, the pilot’s father, said Wednesday that he expects Jordan and the U.S.-led coalition to “take revenge” for the brutal killing. | In his first public statement since the video, Safi al-Kaseasbeh, the pilot’s father, said Wednesday that he expects Jordan and the U.S.-led coalition to “take revenge” for the brutal killing. |
| Just last week, the elder Kaseasbeh had appealed for Jordan to pull out of the coalition. | Just last week, the elder Kaseasbeh had appealed for Jordan to pull out of the coalition. |
| “I urge the government, I expect the government, to seek revenge, severe revenge, for the blood of Muath against this horrid organization, this criminal organization, this organization that is far from Islam and the spirit of Islam,” said the pilot’s father. | “I urge the government, I expect the government, to seek revenge, severe revenge, for the blood of Muath against this horrid organization, this criminal organization, this organization that is far from Islam and the spirit of Islam,” said the pilot’s father. |
| Speaking to al-Arabiya television, he added: “The pain is deep. My son isn’t just the son of Safi al-Kaseasbeh. He is the son of every Jordanian.” | Speaking to al-Arabiya television, he added: “The pain is deep. My son isn’t just the son of Safi al-Kaseasbeh. He is the son of every Jordanian.” |
| Members of the extended Kaseasbeh clan greeted a steady stream of visitors at their mourning tent outside the city of Karak, about 40 miles south of Amman. The family had no body to bury. On the video, Islamic State fighters are shown dumping a bulldozer load of cement rubble over his body. | Members of the extended Kaseasbeh clan greeted a steady stream of visitors at their mourning tent outside the city of Karak, about 40 miles south of Amman. The family had no body to bury. On the video, Islamic State fighters are shown dumping a bulldozer load of cement rubble over his body. |
| Mosques across Jordan held prayers for Kaseasbeh at noon, with government-supported imams denouncing the Islamic State. | Mosques across Jordan held prayers for Kaseasbeh at noon, with government-supported imams denouncing the Islamic State. |
| “May God rest the soul of the honorable martyr Muath al-Kaseasbeh and destroy the terrorist criminals who carried out this act,” Imam Marouf al-Shareef said, leading prayers at Amman’s King Abdullah I Mosque. | “May God rest the soul of the honorable martyr Muath al-Kaseasbeh and destroy the terrorist criminals who carried out this act,” Imam Marouf al-Shareef said, leading prayers at Amman’s King Abdullah I Mosque. |
| The Jordanian Armed Forces released a memorial statement vowing that their comrades’s “spilled blood will be avenged.” | The Jordanian Armed Forces released a memorial statement vowing that their comrades’s “spilled blood will be avenged.” |
| Meanwhile, Christian churches in Amman pealed their bells in remembrance — and interfaith solidarity. At the airport, King Abdullah’s return from Washington was greeted by flag-waving crowds. | Meanwhile, Christian churches in Amman pealed their bells in remembrance — and interfaith solidarity. At the airport, King Abdullah’s return from Washington was greeted by flag-waving crowds. |
| During the noon prayers, Royal Jordanian Air Force fighter jets flew over Amman and Karak. | During the noon prayers, Royal Jordanian Air Force fighter jets flew over Amman and Karak. |
| “Hopefully that is the sound we will hear when they take the fight to the terrorists,” Khalid Daratkeh, 48, an Amman lawyer, said as the jets passed overhead. | “Hopefully that is the sound we will hear when they take the fight to the terrorists,” Khalid Daratkeh, 48, an Amman lawyer, said as the jets passed overhead. |
| “Jordanians are not used to this level of violence, this brutality,” said Marwan Muasher, a former foreign minister and vice president of studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. | “Jordanians are not used to this level of violence, this brutality,” said Marwan Muasher, a former foreign minister and vice president of studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. |
| “In response to this act, Jordanians have put all their differences behind them and have united in what is not only a military war, but what has become a war of values.” | “In response to this act, Jordanians have put all their differences behind them and have united in what is not only a military war, but what has become a war of values.” |
| But Jordan will face tests on whether it can build on the current displays of unity and resolve. | But Jordan will face tests on whether it can build on the current displays of unity and resolve. |
| There have been past signs of support for the Islamic State in Jordan — especially in the poorer regions — though the numbers of people who have waved Islamic State flags or endorsed the group on the Internet is relatively small. | There have been past signs of support for the Islamic State in Jordan — especially in the poorer regions — though the numbers of people who have waved Islamic State flags or endorsed the group on the Internet is relatively small. |
| Labib Kamhawi, an Amman-based political analyst, said King Abdullah faces “a difficult position” on how to frame the response. | Labib Kamhawi, an Amman-based political analyst, said King Abdullah faces “a difficult position” on how to frame the response. |
| “The issue is whether he can transform this into a national issue that affects Jordanians, or whether it becomes a tribal matter with mounting calls for revenge and eye-for-an-eye attacks,” he said. | “The issue is whether he can transform this into a national issue that affects Jordanians, or whether it becomes a tribal matter with mounting calls for revenge and eye-for-an-eye attacks,” he said. |
| He added: “Flexing muscles is one thing. Venturing into hasty decisions, like sending Jordanian troops into Syria against ISIS, could be very dangerous.” | He added: “Flexing muscles is one thing. Venturing into hasty decisions, like sending Jordanian troops into Syria against ISIS, could be very dangerous.” |
| In Washington, President Obama said the United States and its coalition partners would “redouble” their determination to defeat the Islamic State, but U.S. officials said they did not envision any expansion or change in the current strategy. | In Washington, President Obama said the United States and its coalition partners would “redouble” their determination to defeat the Islamic State, but U.S. officials said they did not envision any expansion or change in the current strategy. |
| “That a young patriot — a devout Muslim, one of eight children, just months into married life, with hopes of his own family in front of him — would be ISIL’s latest victim reminds us all of the evil of this enemy,” Secretary of State John F. Kerry said in a statement. | “That a young patriot — a devout Muslim, one of eight children, just months into married life, with hopes of his own family in front of him — would be ISIL’s latest victim reminds us all of the evil of this enemy,” Secretary of State John F. Kerry said in a statement. |
| On Tuesday, the Jordanian Armed Forces said Kaseasbeh had been killed on Jan. 3. It did not explain how it determined the timing, which, if correct, would mean the Islamic State was being duplicitous when it warned last week that Kaseasbeh would be killed if Jordan did not swap Rishawi for Goto. | On Tuesday, the Jordanian Armed Forces said Kaseasbeh had been killed on Jan. 3. It did not explain how it determined the timing, which, if correct, would mean the Islamic State was being duplicitous when it warned last week that Kaseasbeh would be killed if Jordan did not swap Rishawi for Goto. |
| Although the Islamic State had previously beheaded its foreign captives, the militants issued a self-described fatwa, or religious edict, saying the pilot was set ablaze in an act of “reciprocation” to mimic warplane bombardments, according to the Site Intelligence Group, which monitors militant online forums. | |
| [Related: The Islamic State was dumped by al-Qaeda a year ago.] | [Related: The Islamic State was dumped by al-Qaeda a year ago.] |
| At one mourning gathering, crowds quickly turned into an anti-Islamic State rally, with participants chanting, “Terrorists will not scare us!” | At one mourning gathering, crowds quickly turned into an anti-Islamic State rally, with participants chanting, “Terrorists will not scare us!” |
| Protesters also gathered near Amman’s Interior Ministry and in Karak, Kaseasbeh’s home town, burning Islamic State flags and calling for revenge. | Protesters also gathered near Amman’s Interior Ministry and in Karak, Kaseasbeh’s home town, burning Islamic State flags and calling for revenge. |
| “All we want to see is the execution of all Islamic State members in our custody and outside in the same manner — burned alive,” said Fahed Jawazneh, a cousin of the pilot. | “All we want to see is the execution of all Islamic State members in our custody and outside in the same manner — burned alive,” said Fahed Jawazneh, a cousin of the pilot. |
| Adal Adaleen, another relative, said Jordanians were now “prepared for war.” | Adal Adaleen, another relative, said Jordanians were now “prepared for war.” |
| Hugh Naylor in Beirut, and Karen DeYoung, William Branigin and Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report. | Hugh Naylor in Beirut, and Karen DeYoung, William Branigin and Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report. |
| Related stories on the Islamic State: | Related stories on the Islamic State: |
| - The Islamic State is failing at being a state | - The Islamic State is failing at being a state |
| - The Islamic State was dumped by al-Qaeda a year ago. Look where it is now. | - The Islamic State was dumped by al-Qaeda a year ago. Look where it is now. |
| - The Islamic State and its war against history | - The Islamic State and its war against history |
| - What led to the Islamic State’s terrifying rise | - What led to the Islamic State’s terrifying rise |
| - Map: How the flow of foreign fighters to Iraq and Syria has surged since October | - Map: How the flow of foreign fighters to Iraq and Syria has surged since October |