Pilot held by Islamic State puts Jordan's king in a tough spot

A relative of Islamic State captive Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kasaesbeh walks past a poster of Muath in front of his clan's headquarters in Amman January 31, 2015. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed

AMMAN (Reuters) - The fate of a Jordanian pilot held by Islamic State has raised public pressure on King Abdullah over his country's role in the U.S-led military campaign against the hardline group in Syria, fuelling the risk of broader discontent in the U.S. ally.

After his capture in December, militants released pictures of the young pilot Muath al-Kasaesbeh being led out of the water by fighters. His F-16 jet had smashed onto the banks of the Euphrates River in Islamic State's stronghold in northern Syria.