- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Parents of Captured Jordanian Pilot Devastated: Reports

© REUTERS / Muhammad HamedSafi al-Kasaesbeh, father of Jordanian pilot Muath, who was captured by Islamic State after his plane came down near Raqqa in Syria
Safi al-Kasaesbeh, father of Jordanian pilot Muath, who was captured by Islamic State after his plane came down near Raqqa in Syria - Sputnik International
Subscribe
Parents of Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kaseasbeh, who was captured by IS militants after his plane crashed while conducting airstrikes over Syria, fear for their son's life. The pilot's father prayed for mercy and asked the IS to release his son.

MOSCOW, December 25 (Sputnik) — The mother of a Jordanian pilot captured by Islamic State (IS) militants has spoken to the media, according to the Daily Mail.

Мembers of the Islamic State group with the captured Jordanian pilot, center, wearing a white shirt, in Raqqa, Syria - Sputnik International
Jordanian Pilot Captured by IS During Coalition Airstrikes: Armed Forces
On Wednesday, it was reported that a Royal Jordanian Air Force pilot had been captured by the IS militants after his plane crashed while conducting airstrikes over northeastern Syria. The pilot was identified as 27-year old Lieutenant Muath al-Kaseasbeh from Karak Governorate, the Jordan Times reports.

The pilot’s mother said she was devastated by the news and now fears for his life. Earlier, it was reported that al-Kaseasbeh's father prayed for mercy and asked the IS to release his son.

Ban also expressed concern over the shooting down of the plane belonging to the Jordanian military. - Sputnik International
Ban Ki-moon Calls on Islamic State to Treat Jordanian Pilot Lawfully
“I hope God will put mercy in their hearts and they will release my son,” Yusuf al-Kaseasbeh said, as quoted by al-Arabiya News.

Al-Kaseasbeh father also asked Jordanian King Abdullah to help save his son’s life. According to his father, Muath is a very modest and religious person, who has never been harmful to anyone, the Jordan Times said.

Images showed IS fighters carrying a frightened man, naked from the waist down, have been released on social media. He was identified as the downed pilot, the Guardian reported.

Jordan is one of several Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, to have joined the US-led coalition in carrying out airstrikes against IS after the group spread across large swathes of Iraq and Syria. The loss of the Jordanian plane and the capture of al-Kaseasbeh could potentially raise tensions amongst the US-led coalition. Many Arab partners in the alliance have been somewhat reluctant to publically announce their role in the military operation against the IS in fear of retaliation attacks in their own countries, Foreign Policy said. 

Al-Kaseasbeh is a first foreign soldier to fall into the hands of the IS since the US-led coalition started an air campaign against the militants there months ago. His F-16 was brought down by with anti-aircraft missiles, according to the Guardian.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала