IS threatens to kill Jordanian pilot unless suicide bomber released

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Jordanian government is seeking proof a pilot captured by the Islamic State group is still alive as efforts continue to negotiate a prisoner swap, BBC News reports.

Lt Moaz al-Kasasbeh's family said sources had assured them he was alive shortly before an apparent new IS deadline for the swap passed.

Jordan is ready to swap an Iraqi al Qaeda prisoner for its pilot. However, IS is only offering to free a Japanese hostage in return, while sparing the pilot's life.

Japanese hostage Kenji Goto's wife, Rinko, confirmed to the BBC that IS was offering to free Goto in return for the release of Iraqi al Qaeda member Sajida al-Rishawi.

Jordan is part of a U.S.-led coalition which has been carrying out air strikes on IS since last summer when the Syria-based group overran large parts of northern Iraq.

A spokesman for the Combined Joint Task Force told the BBC on Thursday that Jordanian forces were still involved in operations against IS forces.

A video released by IS on Wednesday contained an ultimatum delivered by a person thought to be Goto. "If Sajida al-Rishawi is not ready for exchange for my life at the Turkish border by Thursday sunset [14:30 GMT] 29th of January Mosul time, the Jordanian pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh will be killed immediately," the speaker thought to be Goto says.

Goto's wife Rinko said she had received the same ultimatum by email from the group. There were no details of where the hostages were being held - or where along the lengthy border a possible release might occur.

It was the second such warning issued by IS this week since another Japanese hostage, Haruna Yukawa, was reportedly killed by the group after a demand for ransom of $200m was not met.

Failed suicide bomber Rishawi is on death row in Jordan in relation to bomb attacks in the capital, Amman, which killed 60 people in 2005.

Lt Kasasbeh was captured on Dec 24after his plane crashed in northern Syria. His relatives and other supporters have staged protests in Amman calling for the government to help him.