Jordan military jets pound IS as king comforts pilot's family

Jordan's King Abdullah (R) speaks with Safi al-Kasaesbeh, the father of Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kasaesbeh, as he offers his condolences to the family's clan at their headquarters in the city of Karak February 5, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

AMMAN - Jordanian fighter jets pounded Islamic State targets in Syria on Thursday, before roaring over the hometown of the pilot killed by the militants while King Abdullah consoled the victim's family.

A statement from the Jordanian armed forces said tens of jets were deployed in the attacks, which destroyed ammunition depots and training camps run by the Islamic State.

Witnesses overheard the monarch telling the pilot's father the planes were returning from the militant-held city of Raqqa.

"It's actually the beginning of our retaliation over this horrific and brutal murder of our brave young pilot, but it's not the beginning of our fight against terrorism and extremism," Jordan's Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said in an interview with CNN later on Thursday.

State television aired footage of fighter jets taking off to carry out the raids. It later broadcast footage of the actual bombing before the jets returned safely to Jordan.