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Jordanians hold mass rally to demonstrate against 'IS'

February 6, 2015

Thousands of Jordanians turned out on the streets of Amman to denounce the Jordanian pilot's execution by the "Islamic State" militants. Jordanian officials say that this is just the beginning of their retaliation.

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Jordanien Amman Demonstration vs IS
Image: picture-alliance/epa/J. Nasrallah

After Friday prayer, thousands of Jordanians came to the streets of the capital Amman to demonstrate against "Islamic State" militants' execution of the pilot Muadh al-Kasasbeh.

The rally comes a day after Jordan said its warplanes had bombed Islamic State targets in Syria in retaliation for the pilot's execution.

The participants of the rally carried photos of the executed airman during the rally, which was also joined by the Queen Nour. Protesters marching in central Amman shouted: "Death to Da'esh," using the Arabic word for Islamic State. The militants released a video on Tuesday showing al-Kasasbeh's being burned alive. Carrying Jordanian flags, they also chanted: "We are all Muas."

'This is our war'

On Thursday, Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said his country's military action against Islamic State was "the beginning of our retaliation."

He also told CNN: "We are upping the ante, we are going after them wherever they are, with everything that we have. This is our war."

Prior to the pilot's death, Jordan had confined its strikes to Syria.

In response to the pilot's killing, King Abdullah II also vowed a "relentless war" against extremist group.

EU pledges 1 billion euros to fight 'IS'

The European Union has pledged one billion euros ($1.13 billion) in the fight against IS, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini announced on Friday.

"This package will strengthen our actions to help restore peace and security in a region that is so close to us and that has been devastated by terrorism and violence for too long," she added.

Al-Kasasbeh, who belonged to an influential tribe, was captured by Islamic State in December after his jet crashed in Syria's northeastern city of al-Raqqa.

Jordan is a member of a US-led coalition, which has carried out an aerial campaign against Islamic State targets in Syria since September last year.

ra/kms (dpa, AFP)