US President Barack Obama offered condolences to the people of Jordan and King Abdullah II for the killing of a Jordanian pilot by Islamic State militants and declared that the US and its allies are determined to see the militants and their "hateful ideology banished to the recesses of history."
US Vice President Joe Biden, who lunched with the King in Washington on Tuesday, also condemned the killings and called for the release of all prisoners held by Islamic State.
The reactions from the President and the Vice President came after the Jordanian military confirmed the death of Lt. Muath Al-Kaseasbeh, 26, who fell into the hands of the militants in December when his Jordanian F-16 crashed in Syria. He is the only pilot from the US-led coalition to have been captured to date.
"Lieutenant Al-Kaseasbeh's dedication, courage, and service to his country and family represent universal human values that stand in opposition to the cowardice and depravity of ISIL, which has been so broadly rejected around the globe," Mr Obama said.
He said the death would "redouble the vigilance and determination on the part of our global coalition to make sure they are degraded and ultimately defeated."
King Abdullah met privately on Tuesday with members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The panel's Republican chairman, Senator Bob Corker offered condolences at the start of the meeting. King Abdullah had no comments to reporters who shouted questions as he arrived for the meeting.
US Court Calls Google Monopolist, Says It Violates Competition Law Joe Biden Goes From Star To Sideshow At Democratic Convention Joe Biden, Kamala Harris United At 1st Joint Event Since Presidential Bid How Extreme Weather Is Leading To Rise In Child Marriages In Pakistan Who Is Jasveen Sangha, "Ketamine Queen" Charged With Matthew Perry's Death J&K To Vote In 3 Phases, First Assembly Polls Since Article 370 Was Scrapped In Jammu And Kashmir, A Polling Station On LoC, Another Floats On Dal Lake Impetus Awarded 'Dream Employer of the Year 2024' for the Eighth Consecutive Year K1NGM4K3RS Inc. Aims to Bring Kabaddi to America Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.