Jordan bombs Islamic State in revenge for pilot's murder

The Jordanian air force has carried out a renewed round of airstrikes on Islamic State militants in Syria in revenge for the murder of pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh.

Dozens of fighter jets bombed buildings such as training centres and weapons storage sites. According to the military, all targets were destroyed in the operation, dubbed "Moaz the Martyr".

Days after militants released a video of Kasasbeh being burnt alive, Jordan has released a retaliatory video showing its latest airstrikes and the preparations. Men and women in military uniforms write messages on the bombs, with one saying: "From a brave Jordanian woman to you Baghdadi."

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A pilot also holds up a sign from his cockpit which reads: "And do not think that God is unaware of what the evildoers are doing."

Later in the video, several buildings appear to be blown up, with plumes of fire and smoke rising into the air.

On their return to Jordan, the planes performed a series of low flyovers above Ay, the hillside village of Kasasbeh, as Jordanian King Abdullah II met his grieving family for a memorial service.

The king has vowed to exact revenge for Kasasbeh's death and to step up the fight against the militant group until they are defeated.

e is reportedly considering expanding Jordan's role to conduct airstrikes on IS in Iraq, something "no Arab member of the coalition has done in the six-month campaign", says the Wall Street Journal.

"Thursday's airstrikes marked a first step in what many Jordanians hope will become an escalating confrontation in retaliation for the killing," says the newspaper.

Kasasbeh was captured by IS last year after his F-16 fighter jet crashed in Syria. The US military has since sent rescue aircraft to northern Iraq to help any pilots downed by the militants, a move that might encourage Arab nations to take part in more strikes on Iraq.