On Wednesday the Islamic State shot down an F-16 fighter jet operated by a Jordanian pilot, Flight Lieutenant Moaz Youssef al-Kasasbeh. The fighter jet was executing a military operation when it was shot down by anti-aircraft weaponry.
The Jordanian aircraft was part of the airstrikes lead by the United States against the Islamic State. The Islamic State used a surface to air missile to attack the plane. The Islamic State posted pictures of the plane’s debris and the pilot on social media. The Jordanian government and military both confirmed that the pilot is from Jordan.
Masked and smiling militants are shown in the pictures with the pilot, who is wearing a white shirt and a fearful expression. Pilot Kasabeh’s family was notified of his capture and his father pleaded to the IS for mercy.
“May Allah plant mercy in your hearts and may you release my son,” said Kasabeh’s father.
Kasabeh is 26 years old and has served in the Jordanian Air Force for six years. He married in July and was hopeful for his future, said Kasabeh’s brother about him. The pilot is one of eight children.
The U.S. government, however, claims that the pilot was not shot down, but must have crashed. U.S. officials allegedly have evidence against the claims of the IS.
“We will support efforts to ensure his safe recovery, and will not tolerate ISIL’s attempts to misrepresent or exploit this unfortunate aircraft crash for their own purposes,” said Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III.
Since this is the first aircraft in the airstrike coalition to be downed, it draws a great deal of attention. The Jordanian government claimed to commit itself to securing Kasabeh and bringing him back home safely. Experts have mixed opinions on the effect the new Jordanian hostage will have in terms of the Jordanian effort to stop the Islamic State.
