Special to WorldTribune.com

LONDON — Jordan, under heavy domestic pressure, has sharply reduced air operations against Islamic State of Iraq and Levant.

Diplomatic sources said the Hashemite kingdom has ordered a virtual suspension of air operations in the U.S.-led war against ISIL, Middle East Newsline reported. They said the Royal Jordanian Air Force stopped all air strikes on ISIL in Iraq and Syria while approving limited reconnaissance operations along the kingdom’s border.

“Jordan continues to serve as a base for [anti-ISIL] operations, but is no longer an active participant,” a source said.

The sources said Amman suspended most operations against ISIL within days of its capture of a Jordanian air force pilot. In late December 2014, a Jordanian F-16 multi-role fighter crashed in northern Syria and was taken hostage by ISIL.

Since then, the sources said, Jordan has sought to win the release of the hostage with promises to free an Al Qaida operative on death row. They said King Abdullah, confronted by anti-U.S. demonstrations, also stopped air strikes as a goodwill gesture to ISIL.

“The king never told his people that Jordan was conducting air strikes against ISIL,” the source said. “So, there were many who were furious that Jordan was involved in a war in which many Jordanian fighters in Syria were being threatened.”

The sources said the king would continue to allow members of the U.S.-led coalition to use Jordan as a base for attacks against ISIL in Iraq and Syria. France has been conducting nearly daily strikes with its fleet of Mirage 2000 fighter-jets since late 2014.

“But it is doubtful how long the king can resist pressure to stop this as well,” the source said.

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