Lebanon condemns IS for brutal execution of Jordan pilot

The Lebanese government condemned Wednesday the "brutal crime committed against the Jordanian pilot Maaz al-Kassasbeh by the Islamic State group," stressing his death has disheartened all Lebanese."

Lebanon's Minister of Information Ramzi Jrij said following a cabinet meeting that "the ministers expressed their shock," condemning "the decadence that this dark ideology has reached."

Separately, the cabinet underlined that Lebanon is "fighting a battle against takfiri terrorism," noting that the government "grants full political cover to the army and security forces as they perform the duty of confronting the terrorism."

The cabinet also condemned the bombing that targeted a Lebanese bus in Damascus and killed nine people, including six Lebanese Shiite pilgrims.

Moreover, the cabinet agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Turkish government on "cooperation in the field of military training."

In a highly choreographed 22-minute video released on Tuesday, the Jordanian pilot Kassasbeh is seen wearing an orange jumpsuit surrounded by armed and masked jihadists before he appears inside a metal cage apparently soaked in petrol.

One of the jihadists lights a trail of flame that runs into the cage and burns him alive. Endit