<p>Jordanian fighter jets have carried out new air strikes, the military said today, a day after the country's king vowed to wage a "harsh" war against Islamic State militants who control parts of neighbouring Syria and Iraq.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The army statement did not say which country was targeted. Jordan is part of a US-led military coalition that has bombed IS targets in both countries since last fall, but until now Jordanian warplanes are only known to have carried out raids in Syria.<br /><br />King Abdullah II pledged to step up the fight against the IS group after the militants burned a captive Jordanian pilot in a cage and released a video of the killing earlier this week. The images have sent waves of revulsion across the region.<br /><br />Warplanes today roared overhead as the king paid a condolence visit to the family of the pilot, Lt Muath al-Kaseasbeh, in his village in southern Jordan. The king pointed at the planes as he sat next to the pilot's father.<br /><br />Abdullah has said Jordan's response "will be harsh because this terrorist organization is not only fighting us, but also fighting Islam and its pure values."<br /><br />In a statement yesterday, he pledged to hit the militants "hard in the very center of their strongholds."<br /><br />In Washington, leading members of Congress have called for increased U.S. military assistance to the kingdom. Currently, the United States is providing Jordan with USD 1 billion annually in economic and military assistance. <br /></p>
<p>Jordanian fighter jets have carried out new air strikes, the military said today, a day after the country's king vowed to wage a "harsh" war against Islamic State militants who control parts of neighbouring Syria and Iraq.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The army statement did not say which country was targeted. Jordan is part of a US-led military coalition that has bombed IS targets in both countries since last fall, but until now Jordanian warplanes are only known to have carried out raids in Syria.<br /><br />King Abdullah II pledged to step up the fight against the IS group after the militants burned a captive Jordanian pilot in a cage and released a video of the killing earlier this week. The images have sent waves of revulsion across the region.<br /><br />Warplanes today roared overhead as the king paid a condolence visit to the family of the pilot, Lt Muath al-Kaseasbeh, in his village in southern Jordan. The king pointed at the planes as he sat next to the pilot's father.<br /><br />Abdullah has said Jordan's response "will be harsh because this terrorist organization is not only fighting us, but also fighting Islam and its pure values."<br /><br />In a statement yesterday, he pledged to hit the militants "hard in the very center of their strongholds."<br /><br />In Washington, leading members of Congress have called for increased U.S. military assistance to the kingdom. Currently, the United States is providing Jordan with USD 1 billion annually in economic and military assistance. <br /></p>