Amman: Jordan vowed further retaliation against the Islamic State group for the burning alive of one of its pilots, as thousands rallied in Amman on Friday in solidarity with his grieving family.
The Jordanian military said "dozens of jet fighters" struck IS targets on Thursday, hitting terrorist training camps as well as weapons and ammunition depots.
Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said the operation was "the beginning of our retaliation over this horrific and brutal murder of our brave young pilot."
IS earlier this week released a highly choreographed video of the horrifying murder of pilot Maaz al-Kassasbeh, whose death has sparked grief and deep anger in Jordan.
Judeh declined to reveal Jordan's military plans but said it would hit the militants with all its might. "We're upping the ante. We're going after them wherever they are, with everything that we have," he said.
"We're going to go after them and we will eradicate them. We are at the forefront. This is our fight." American F-16 and F-22 jets provided security to the Jordanian fighter planes, with additional support from refuelling tankers and surveillance aircraft, US officials said.
Thousands marched in the capital on Friday in a show of solidarity for the murdered pilot. Protesters gathered after weekly prayers at the Al-Husseini mosque in central Amman, waving Jordanian flags and pictures of Kassasbeh.
"We are all Maaz. We are all Jordan," the crowd chanted.
Placards were also held aloft that read: "Yes to punishment. Yes to the eradication of terrorism." On Thursday, King Abdullah II visited Kassasbeh's family, which has urged the government to "destroy" the jihadists, to pay his condolences.
Hundreds of people gathered as the king sat next to the 26-year-old first lieutenant's father.
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