Jordanian and U.S.-led forces targeted the Islamic State group in an onslaught of airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, military sources reported Saturday.
Jordan continued a third straight day of airstrikes in retaliation for the Islamic extremist group’s immolation of captured fighter pilot Muath al-Kaseasbeh, whose horrific death was shown in a video released Tuesday. He reportedly had been killed in early January.
The United Arab Emirates said Saturday it ordered a squadron of F-16 fighter planes to Jordan to help with the airstrikes. State news agency WAM carried the announcement.
Both Jordan and the UAE are members of the U.S.-led coalition attacking the militants in their captured territory in Iraq and Syria. Coalition airstrikes also continued Saturday, as the fate of the American aid worker being held by Islamic State remained unknown.
Reuters news agency reported a state television bulletin on Saturday said fighters "bombed bases of the Daesh terror gang," using an Arabic abbreviation for the Islamic State militant group. Some targets were in the Syrian city of Tagga. The bulletin included no further details.
Meanwhile, the U.S.-led forces launched 26 airstrikes in a 24-hour period beginning Friday, the U.S. military said, according to Reuters.
Eleven of the strikes hit at IS targets in Syria and 15 in Iraq, the Combined Joint Task Force said in a statement.
Nine of the targets were around the Syrian town of Kobani, which was retaken from the militants last month. The task force said the strikes hit seven tactical units and destroyed five vehicles, Reuters reported.
In Iraq, the airstrikes aimed at northern areas including al-Qaim, Kirkuk, Mahkmur, Mosul and Tal Afar.
Reuters news agency contributed to this report.
