PHOTO: Jordanian pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh, burnt alive by Islamic State in northern Syria

LATEST: Videos — Recovering & Mourning Victims of Airstrike on Old City Section of Daraa

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Jordan executed two prisoners early Wednesday after the Islamic State burned a Jordanian pilot, held since December 24, alive.

The jihadists released a video on Tuesday showing their killing of Moaz al-Kasasbeh, whose jet was downed in northern Syria as he carried out a raid for a US-led coalition.

Although negotiations had been ongoing for al-Kasasbeh’s release — with Jordan saying it would free an Iraqi woman on Death Row for him — it was unclear whether the pilot’s execution took pilot yesterday or up to a month ago.

In response to the confirmation of al-Kasasbeh’s death, Jordan hung Sajida al-Rishawi, the would-be suicide bomber who was to have be swapped for the pilot. Another accused Al Qa’eda operative, Ziad al-Karbouli, was also sent to the gallows.

Five other detainees on Death Row were moved to al-Suwaqa Prison, where executions in Jordan are usually carried out.

In a televised address, King Abdullah II, who cut short a trip to the US when the news of al-Kasasbeh’s killing broke, pledged to confront the Islamic State.

“Jordan’s response will be earth-shattering,” Information Minister Mohammed Momani echoed. “Whoever doubted the unity of the Jordanian people, we will prove them wrong.”

Syrian insurgents of the Southern Front responded, “We send condolences to Jordan and especially to the Kasasbeh tribe [family] after the martyrdom of [Moaz]. He is a loss for Jordan and us, martyred in the battle against terrorism.”

US officials confirmed on Tuesday that the United Arab Emirates, suspended its involvement in US-led airstrikes against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq after al-Kasasbeh was captured.

The UAE demanded that the American improve its search-and-rescue efforts, moving V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft from Kuwait and stationing them in northern Iraq.

US officials said al-Kasasbeh was grabbed “within minutes”, but UAE counterparts asked whether rescue teams would have been able to reach the pilot even if there had been more time to do so. Last week, the UAE Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, asked the new US Ambassador why the Americans had not put “proper assets” in northern Iraq for rescues.

“He let her have it over this,” a US official said.

Videos: Recovering & Mourning Victims of Airstrike on Old City Section of Daraa

Rescue workers recover bodies from rubble after a regime airstrike on Daraa Balad in southern Syria:

Mourning the victims:

Insurgents Announce New Attacks on Regime Forces in Damascus, Warn Civilians

The insurgent faction Jaish al-Islam has announced plans for more attacks on regime forces in Damascus, responding to the Syrian military’s “massacres” of civilians in insurgent-held areas near the capital.

Ten days ago, Jaish al-Islam fired more than 100 rockets at regime positions in the capital. State media said several civilians were killed by the attacks, while opposition activists claimed that casualties were inflicted by regime mortar fire on the neighborhoods rather than the Jaish al-Islam rockets.

Far from relenting in its attacks, the Syrian military has escalated bombardments of the nearby areas. In Douma, northeast of Damascus, dozens of civilians have been killed and wounded this week by airstrikes.

In his latest statement, Jaish al-Islam leader Zahran Alloush, who is also the military head of the Islamic Front bloc, expanded the “military zone” to all of Damascus. He advised civilians, including diplomats in the Midan area — where there are a number of military installations — to avoid all regime positions and vehicles and to observe a curfew “until further notice”: “We ask all civilians, diplomatic personnel and students not to approach the regime’s checkpoints and headquarters…or walk in the capital’s streets during work hours.”

Local opposition activists said that regime forces backed by armored vehicles tried to invade Douma on Wednesday morning but were being repelled by insurgents.

The offensive was accompanied by four airstrikes and two surface-surface missiles, injuring dozens of people, most of them women and children, according to the Douma Local Coordinating Committee.