Jordan retaliates: Two al-Qaida prisoners executed after IS killing of pilot

Just hours after Islamic State militants released a video purportedly showing captured Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kaseasbeh being burned alive in a cage, Jordan followed through with the execution of two militants, Sajida al-Rishawi and Ziad al-Karbouly. Al-Rishawi, an Iraqi woman, was sentenced to death in 2005 for her a role in a suicide bomb attack in Amman. Karbouly, an Iraqi man, was sentenced to death in 2008 for plotting terror attacks on Jordanians in Iraq. Both were executed at dawn on Wednesday. Over the past week, Jordan had offered to trade al-Rishawi for the pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh, but froze any swap after saying it had received no proof that the pilot was still alive. Kaseasbeh’s father said the two executions were not enough and urged the government to do more to avenge the pilot’s brutal death, “with even more painful blows to destroy these criminals.”

I want the state to get revenge for my son’s blood through more executions of those people who follow this criminal group that shares nothing with Islam

Safi al-Kasaesbeh, father of murdered pilot

Meanwhile, U.S. officials said the execution of the pilot is likely to harden Jordan’s position as a member of the U.S.-led coalition striking Islamic State targets in Syria. Jordan has not retreated from the air campaign against the Islamic State since the group captured al-Kasaesbeh after his jet crashed in northeastern Syria in December. One official said he expected al-Kasaesbeh’s killing “to have an electrifying effect” on Jordan. But the campaign also poses risks for Jordan, where there are pockets of support for the militants and which has played down its military role in a neighboring Arab country. Former State Department counter-terrorism chief Daniel Benjamin said Islamic State’s use of extreme brutality is aimed more at attracting recruits.

Ultimately, though, the atrocities and the misgovernance of those under ISIS rule will turn the broader Muslim population more forcefully against it and strengthen the resolve of coalition members.

Former State Department counter-terrorism chief Daniel Benjamin