Jordan that has promised to step up its role in the international coalition, fighting the Islamic State (ISIS) militants in Syria and Iraq, may soon deploy special ground forces to fight the militant group that burnt its pilot, Muath al-Kaseasbeh, alive.
Jordanian military and security officials are currently "engaged in closed discussions on how to respond militarily to the provocation."
A Jerusalem Post report citing the Jordan-based daily newspaper Al Arab Al Yawm said on Thursday that Jordanian officials are mulling a "quick-strike, lightning blow" against the terrorist group.
Meanwhile, the burning alive of the pilot has united the public opinion in Jordan and the country could send "special ground troops" against ISIS, according to an Al Jazeera report, citing its Amman correspondent Rula Amin.
Jordanians are reportedly "adamant" that the government should "intensify its role" against ISIS. "They want to retaliate, to respond and punish ISIS," Amin said.
In response to the brutal killing of the pilot, King Abdullah II of Jordan had vowed on Wednesday that his country will take more retaliatory action. His statement was followed by the hanging of two convicted Iraqis on death row - female would-be suicide bomber Sajida al-Rishawi and al-Qaeda operative Ziad al-Karbouli.
Washington Post journalist William Booth, based in Amman, also hinted that Jordan might deploy ground forces.
"Jordan legislators say "stage is set for escalation" in fight against ISIS, don't rule out use of ground troops & special forces in Syria," Booth posted on his Twitter handle, @BoothWilliam.
Meanwhile, another Amman-based correspondent of Washington Post, Taylor Luck, tweeted: #Jordan officials, MPs: dispatch of Jordanian ground troops to #Syria "next logical step" after Islamic State killing of Jordanian pilot."
Earlier on Thursday, several Jordanians participated in scribbling messages on missiles that were meant to be dropped on ISIS targets. One of the messages on a missile read: "'For You, the Enemies of Islam."
On Thursday, at least 30 Jordanian fighter jets launched a series of air strikes on ISIS targets in Raqqa. It is reported that several training centres and ammunition depots of Islamic State were destroyed in the attack.
After completing the mission, the whole fleet that participated in the bombing had later flew over the village of the slain pilot, Muath al-Kaseasbeh, on their way back.
