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.
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.
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.
#ISIS releases photo of the military ID card of captured Jordanian pilot Lt. Muath Kasasbeh. #jordan pic.twitter.com/yqEGharpjG
— Mureed Hammad (@mureedhammad) 24 декабря 2014
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.
