Jordan Willing to Move Heaven and Earth to Free Captive Pilot

MOSCOW, February 1 (Sputnik) — The Kingdom of Jordan said it will do everything possible to secure the release of a pilot held captive by the Islamic State militants, AFP reports.

Jordan "will do everything it can to save the life and secure the release of its pilot," government spokesperson Mohammed al-Momeni said, according to the news agency. "All state organizations have been mobilized to secure the proof of life that we require so that he can be freed and returned to his home," he also added.

The statement was issued after Kenji Goto, a Japanese journalist previously held by the IS, was executed by the militants. Goto became the second Japanese to be executed by the jihadists following last week's killing of Haruna Yukawa. The murder of the hostages is an apparent act of retaliation by IS for Japan’s willingness to provide $200 million in financial aid to countries in the Middle East that oppose the group, AFP adds.

The Washington Times points out that Jordan also previously threatened to execute all of the Islamic State prisoners in its custody if the captive pilot is executed. Sajida al-Rishawi, who was involved in an al-Qaeda bombing plot in 2005, and other imprisoned IS commanders would be "quickly judged and sentenced" if the pilot was to be harmed, the newspaper adds.

First Lieutenant Muath al-Kasaesbeh was shot down over Syria on December 24, 2014 during a combat mission against the Islamic State forces in the region. He became the first member of the international anti-IS coalition to be captured by the Islamists.