Why did Jordan join the air campaign against ISIS in 2014?

Jordan joined the U.S.-led air campaign against ISIS in September 2014 primarily to address the emerging security threat posed by the extremist group in neighboring Syria and Iraq. ISIS included reconstituted elements of al-Qaeda in Iraq, a group that had previously orchestrated deadly bombings in Amman in 2005.1

While Jordan initially sought to downplay its participation in the coalition due to significant domestic opposition, the country's involvement became more prominent following the capture and brutal murder of a Jordanian pilot by ISIS in early 2015. This horrific act caused public support for military action to surge, leading King Abdullah II to take a more visible leadership role and significantly increase the number of air strikes carried out by the Jordanian military.21