Report: Jordan mulls ground offensive against Islamic State

King Abdullah vowed a relentless war against Islamic State on their own territory.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Jordanian military helicopter flies over an armored vehicle near the Karameh border crossing on the Jordanian-Iraqi border (photo credit: REUTERS)
Jordanian military helicopter flies over an armored vehicle near the Karameh border crossing on the Jordanian-Iraqi border
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Still seething in anger over the videotaped execution of its captive air force pilot, Jordan is considering a military ground campaign against Islamic State, according to an Arab press report on Thursday.
The Amman-based daily newspaper Al Arab Al Yawm reported on Thursday that the Jordanians are mulling a “quick-strike, lightning blow” against ISIS. The report also stated that the government would then re-evaluate its strategy within the framework of the international, US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State.
The report is consistent with public comments made by the monarchy's leadership in response to the burning alive of Muath al-Kasaesbeh, which is believed to have taken place a month ago but the footage of which was disseminate across Arab social media on Tuesday.
King Abdullah vowed a relentless war against Islamic State on their own territory, state television quoted him as saying during a security meeting on Wednesday.
"We are waging this war to protect our faith, our values and human principles and our war for their sake will be relentless and will hit them in their own ground," state television said.
His comments come a day after Islamic State released a video appearing to show a captured Jordanian pilot being burned alive.
A Jordanian government spokesman said on Wednesday that the Hashemite Kingdom will intensify its efforts with the international coalition fighting Islamic State after the killing of the Jordanian pilot.
"We are talking about a collaborative effort between coalition members to intensify efforts to stop extremism and terrorism to undermine, degrade and eventually finish Daesh," Mohammad al-Momani said, using an Arabic acronym for Islamic State.
King Abdullah headed a meeting with senior security officials on Wednesday, he added.
Jordan has mounted air raids in Syria as part of the US-led alliance against Islamic State insurgents and said on Tuesday that it would deliver a "strong, earth-shaking and decisive" response to the killing.
"All the State's military and security agencies are developing their options. Jordan's response will be heard by the world at large but this response on the security and military level will be announced at the appropriate time," Momani said.