Jordan says it will kill all Islamic State prisoners if airman hostage is dead
Amman, Jordan: Jordan has threatened to fast-track the execution of suicide bomber Sajida al-Rishawi the Islamic State is trying to free if the terror group kills its captured pilot, DailyMail reported.
The government has apparently warned thatal-Rishawi and other jailed IS militants would be ‘quickly judged and sentenced’ in revenge of Muath al-Kaseasbeh’s death. It comes after a deadline for a possible prisoner swap allegedly set by IS passed on Friday with no clue over the fate of al-Kaseasbeh.
Intelligence sources said IS’ refusal to prove that al-Kaseasbeh was alive meant any deal with the militants was doomed. Now Jordan has reportedly stepped up its rhetoric by warning of its intent to retaliate if the negotiations end in bloodshed.
Elijah Magnier, chief international correspondent for Kuwait’s Al Rai daily, told MailOnline: “I have reliable contacts in the Jordanian government who says a message has been passed to the IS.”
‘It warns that if they kill the pilot they will implement the death sentences for Sajida and other IS prisoners as soon as possible.”
There are other prisoners in Jordan that IS would like to free.
Shortly after reports of the ultimatum emerged, Jordan issued a statement saying they were still waiting for proof that the captured F-16 pilot was still alive.
Jordan had agreed to an IS demand to free al-Rishawi who failed to fulfil her Al Qaeda mission as a suicide bomber. In return, IS said it would not execute the 26-year-old pilot, who was seized in December after crashing near its HQ in Syria’s Raqqa.