The United Arab Emirates resumed air strikes Tuesday against the Islamic State group which it had suspended after the jihadists captured a Jordanian pilot in December, the military said.

"Aircraft of the F-16 squadron based in Jordan launched raids this morning against positions of the Daesh (IS) terrorist organisation, hitting their targets and returning safely to base," the UAE armed forces command said.

The fighter squadron deployed to Jordan on Sunday to boost the kingdom's fight against IS after the jihadists brutally murdered the captured pilot.