‘Kasasbeh will forever personify the bravery of a true son of Jordan’

AMMAN — News of the brutal murder of Jordanian pilot 1st Lt. Muath Kasasbeh at the hands of the so-called Islamic State (IS) terrorist group was received with condemnation worldwide.

Several world leaders and countries offered their condolences to His Majesty King Abdullah and the people of Jordan.

In their statements, some world leaders stressed that this brutal act of IS will only strengthen the international coalition fighting the militant group.

In a statement issued by the White House, US President Barack Obama condemned the killing and offered his condolences to King Abdullah and the people of Jordan on behalf of the American people. 

He added in the statement sent to The Jordan Times through the US embassy in Amman that Kasasbeh “will forever personify the bravery of a true son of Jordan, one who honoured his family and country by his seven years of military service”.

“Kasasbeh’s dedication, courage, and service to his country and family represent universal human values that stand in opposition to the cowardice and depravity of ISIL, which has been so broadly rejected around the globe,” the statement said.

It added: “Today, the coalition fights for everyone who has suffered from ISIL’s inhumanity.  It is their memory that invests us and our coalition partners with the undeterred resolve to see ISIL and its hateful ideology banished to the recesses of history.”

Also on Tuesday, British Prime Minister David Cameron has issued a statement on the murder of Kasasbeh.

“I condemn this sickening murder by ISIL’s barbaric terrorists,” Cameron said in a statement published on the UK prime ministry’s website.

“These terrorists’ brutal behaviour will only strengthen our resolve. We stand in solidarity with our Jordanian friends and we will continue to work with them and our other coalition partners to defeat ISIL,” the statement added.

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE foreign minister, also condemned the brutal act of IS, stressing that “this crime vindicates the UAE and the coalition’s decisive position in combating extremism without hesitation”.

He added that terrorist groups should be “uprooted by the civilised societies”.

The Egyptian foreign ministry also condemned the killing of Kasasbeh considering the act of IS as “cowardly act”. 

Bahrain expressed its solidarity with and support for Jordan regarding any reaction the Kingdom deems appropriate to respond to the terrorist group and its crime.

Another statement was also issued by Qatar condemning this brutal act, describing IS as a “criminal group”, and stressing its solidarity with Jordan and its people.

Lebanon also condemned the killing, stressing its solidarity with Jordan and calling for “documenting all the heinous crimes conducted by terrorist groups”.

Morocco also condemned the “savage act of IS and stressed its solidarity with Jordan and support for the Kingdom’s efforts in fighting terrorism and extremism”.

In a statement by the Arab League, Nabil El-Araby, secretary general of the league, also echoed similar statements.