AMMAN — The Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF) announced Thursday that Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) fighters carried out “Operation Martyr Muath” in retaliation for the brutal killing of pilot Muath Kasasbeh at the hands of the so-called Islamic State (IS) terrorist group.

In a statement read on Jordan TV late evening, JAF said that the attack occurred at 11am, involving “dozens of RJAF fighters”, which were shown in footage as they took off, attacked what appeared to be military structures and landed back in the base.

The army said all targets were destroyed and all planes returned safe to their base.

The operation “came to uproot this terrorist organisation and destroy evil in its lurking places”, JAF said, vowing to continue the war until the terrorists are eliminated and Jordanians are spared their tyranny.

“They will pay for each hair of Muath,” the statement said.

Army briefing

The fighters flew over Amman and the southern governorate of Karak, where Kasasbeh’s hometown lies, Jordan TV said in breaking news, following the missions.

Later in the day, King Abdullah, the Supreme Commander of JAF, visited army headquarters where he was received by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff Mashal Al Zaben and other commanders of different army units.

HRH Prince Feisal also attended the meeting, according to a Royal Court statement.

During the meeting, Zaben briefed the King on the “details of the air strikes carried out by the brave men of RJAF today targeting hideouts of IS”, the statement said.

Discussions focused on several army-related issues.

King Abdullah expressed his pride in the great efforts exerted by the military in defending the country’s security and stability and safeguarding its accomplishments, expressing his confidence in the high and advanced level of JAF, in terms of their preparedness and training, the Royal Court said.