TerrorismISIS beheads second American hostage
ISIS has released a video yesterday which depicted the beheading of Steven Sotloff, an American journalist kept captive by the group. It appears that Sotloff had been killed by the same U.K.-born ISIS militant who beheaded James Foley two weeks ago. U.S. intelligence experts said the video was authentic. The killer warned President Obama to “back off” and end the U.S. bombing campaign against ISIS targets, then warned other governments which might join the “evil” actions of the United States against ISIS. The video shows another kneeling captive, who is described as a British national (the U.K. has identified the hostage as David Cawthorne Haines, an aid worker).
ISIS has released a video yesterday which, the Islamist organization said, depicted the beheading of Steven Sotloff, an American journalist kept captive by the group.
Site Intel group, which follows Islamist and terrorist propaganda material, first reported the purported beheading. Site Intel said that from the video released by ISIS it appears that Sotloff had been killed by the same U.K.-born ISIS militant who beheaded James Foley two weeks ago.
The New York Times reports that that U.S. intelligence experts have established the authenticity of the video.
The Guardian notes that the video version seen by its correspondent was entitled: “A second message to America.” Sotloff is seen on his knees, his hands tied behind his back, beside a man holding a serrated knife, similar to the one shown in the Foley video.
The black-clad, masked fighter says he was the same man who murdered Foley, saying: “I’m back, Obama, and I’m back because of your arrogant foreign policy toward the Islamic State.”
The video shows a desolate desert landscape, which appears similar the location in which Foley was murdered.
As was the case with Foley, Sotloff is dressed in an orange jumpsuit and is made to deliver a statement blaming Obama for his murder.
The British-accented killer states: “You, Obama, have yet again, through your actions, killed yet another American citizen.” He then appears to slice Sotloff’s throat.
After the killing, the masked killer repeats his demand that Obama end the U.S. bombing campaign in Iraq, and says that if the United States does not cease bombing, “our knife will continue to strike the necks of your people”.
The killer extends his warning to governments which might join the “evil” actions of the United States against ISIS. The video then cuts to another kneeling captive, who is described as a British national (tye U.K. has identified the hostage as David Cawthorne Haines, an aid worker).
The U.S. government has several times used the plural to refer to “American hostages” held by ISIS. Earlier today (Tuesday), in brief, informal remarks delivered as news of the Sotloff beheading video was breaking, the White House press secretary Josh Earnest appeared to be saying that Sotloff may have been among the hostages U.S. Special Forces tried to free.
Sotloff’s mother, Shirley Sotloff, recorded a plea to ISIS to spare her son’s life after the video of Foley’s execution last month showed her son, with the masked killer threatening he would be next in line if the militant group’s demands were not met.
Since 8 August, the United States has conducted 123 airstrikes against ISIS targets.
