Syria's Foreign Minister has criticized neighboring Jordan, which recently stepped up air strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria, saying his country does not need outside help in battling IS militants, the Associated Press reports.

Walid al-Moallem also told reporters on Monday, Feb 9, that Damascus will not accept Jordanian or other foreign ground troops crossing into Syria to fight the Islamic State. He says any such incursion would be considered a violation of Syrian sovereignty.

There has been no mention of any international troops going into Syria to fight IS.

Jordan has, however, vowed to retaliate for the slaying of one of its pilots, who was burned alive by the Islamic State group militants last week.