Jordan’s Foreign Fighter Problem

As Jordan reels from the horrific killing of one of its fighter pilots by Islamic State militants, the death also highlights how inextricably involved the country has become in the conflict in Syria.

Jordan shares an extensive border with Syria, and the proximity has made it one of the main recipients of refugees from the country, as well as a host for covert U.S.-led training of Syrian rebels. While this flow of Syrians into Jordan has raised concerns over security and strain on resources, there’s also worry over the significant number of Jordanians who have become foreign fighters in Syria.

As of October 2014, between 60 and 90 people have reportedly been arrested under the law for alleged connections to the Islamic State group, a number that is likely to rise. In the wake of the killing of Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kaseasbeh, Jordan’s King Abdullah II vowed to continue the fight against the Islamic State on Wednesday, declaring, “We are waging this war to protect our faith, our values and human principles and our war for their sake will be relentless.”

The Huffington Post