WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United Arab Emirates halted their airstrikes against the Islamic State soon after a Jordanian pilot was taken hostage, a US official told Sputnik on Wednesday.
“I can confirm that UAE suspended airstrikes shortly after the Jordanian pilot's plane went down,” the official said, adding that UAE continues to be important and valuable partner of the United States “that is contributing to the [anti-IS] coalition.”
On Tuesday, IS militants posted images on social media showing Jordanian pilot Muath Kasaesbeh being burned alive. Jordanian state television reported that the execution took place on January 3.
Kasaesbeh had been held hostage by IS militants since December 2014, when his plane crashed in IS-controlled territory in Syria.
