Hizbullah Slams 'IS Butchers' over Gruesome Pilot Execution
Hizbullah on Wednesday condemned as a “brutal crime” the execution by burning of Jordanian fighter pilot Maaz al-Kassasbeh at the hands of the Islamic State group, describing the IS militants as “butchers.”
“Hizbullah condemns the brutal, heinous crime that was committed by the IS gang against the Jordanian pilot,” the party said in a statement.
In a highly choreographed 22-minute video released Tuesday, Kassasbeh is seen wearing an orange jumpsuit surrounded by armed and masked jihadists before he appears inside a metal cage apparently soaked in petrol. One of the jihadists lights a trail of flame that runs into the cage and burns him alive.
The video -- the most brutal yet in a series of recorded killings of hostages by IS -- prompted global revulsion and vows of unwavering international efforts to combat the jihadist extremists.
“The despicable method used by the IS gang is usually used by the most vicious of butchers,” Hizbullah added, offering condolences to the pilot's family and to the Jordanian people.
“It has become necessary for a lot of countries in the region and the world to reconsider their policies which are based on supporting terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq,” the party added.
“Through their massacres and atrocities, these groups are deliberately distorting the image of Islam and Muslims and pushing people away from religion through endorsing bizarre and condemned fatwas,” Hizbullah said.
Al-Kassasbeh was captured by IS in December when his fighter plane crashed in Syria as he participated in the U.S.-led campaign against the group.
Hizbullah itself has sent scores of fighters into Syria under the argument of fighting extremist jihadist groups before their presence spreads to Lebanon.
Y.R.
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