“In terms of the actions, we are aware of the death sentences, of course, being carried out. These individuals, I would remind everybody were -- had gone through a judicial process, were both convicted al Qaeda-connected terrorists, who had been sentenced to death long before Feb. 3,” said State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki.
The prisoners were hanged shortly after ISIL supporters released an Internet video Tuesday that appeared to show the execution of Jordanian pilot Moaz al-Kasasabeh.
ISIL had demanded the release of al-Rishawi – an Iraqi woman sentenced to death in Jordan following a spate of deadly hotel bombings in Amman in 2005 – in exchange for the Jordanian pilot`s release.
"We stand behind the people of Jordan. The government of Jordan is an important partner. This was a vile murder of a brave Jordanian that will only serve to steel the international community`s resolve to destroy ISIL," Psaki added.
The U.S. is leading an international coalition that includes France, Germany and Jordan, and has carried out more than 1,500 air strikes against ISIL in Iraq and Syria since operations began in August, according to U.S. military.
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