The Jordanian authorities said Tuesday they are verifying the authenticity of a video message released by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and showing photos of Jordanian pilot and a Japanese hostage.
In their message, the ISIL militants gave Jordan 24-hour ultimatum to release Sajida Al-Rishawi, a female member of Al-Qaeda on the death row for involvement in the bombing in Amman which killed 60 people in 2005, or they will kill the pilot Muath Kasasbeh and the Japanese journalist Kenji Goto.
The competent bodies of the Jordanian Armed Forces are verifying the authenticity of the recordings attributed to ISIL, a senior military official said.
On December 24, ISIL claimed they shot down a Jordanian warplane in Raqqa govrnorate, east Syria, and captured Flying Officer Kasasbeh, 26; he is the first foreign military pilot to fall into ISIL captivity since an international coalition began its aerial campaign against ISIS in September.
ISIL announced a few days ago they executed another Japanese hostage, identified as Haruna Yukawa, 42, after his government refused to pay a ransom of USD 200 million.