US President Barack Obama confirmed Islamic State militants have executed US aid-worker Abdul-Rahman Kassig, condemning the killing as "an act of pure evil by a terrorist group that the world rightly associates with inhumanity."
Kassig's execution, shown in a video which has been authenticated by the White House, is the fifth such killing of Western hostages by the Islamic State. The latest video by IS also shows the mass beheading of at least 14 Syrian soldiers captured by the Islamic militant group, who are paraded out before the camera.
In a statement aboard Air Force One, Obama said,
Kassig was a former US army Ranger who had served in Iraq before turning to humanitarian work, spending time in both Lebanon and southern Turkey helping Syrian refugees. He was kidnapped on October 1 2013 when he attempted to deliver medical supplies in an ambulance into Syria.
In the video of his killing the same masked executioner who appears in previous IS videos speaks to the camera.
"To Obama, the dog of Rome, today we are slaughtering the soldiers of Bashar and tomorrow we will be slaughtering your soldiers," said the masked man. He went on to say,
Kassig's execution, shown in a video which has been authenticated by the White House, is the fifth such killing of Western hostages by the Islamic State. The latest video by IS also shows the mass beheading of at least 14 Syrian soldiers captured by the Islamic militant group, who are paraded out before the camera.
In a statement aboard Air Force One, Obama said,
“Today we offer our prayers and condolences to the parents and family of Abdul-Rahman Kassig, also known to us as Peter.”British Prime Minister David Cameron said he was horrified by the "cold-blooded murder."
"Today we grieve together, yet we also recall that the indomitable spirit of goodness and perseverance that burned so brightly in Abdul-Rahman Kassig."
Kassig was a former US army Ranger who had served in Iraq before turning to humanitarian work, spending time in both Lebanon and southern Turkey helping Syrian refugees. He was kidnapped on October 1 2013 when he attempted to deliver medical supplies in an ambulance into Syria.
In the video of his killing the same masked executioner who appears in previous IS videos speaks to the camera.
"To Obama, the dog of Rome, today we are slaughtering the soldiers of Bashar and tomorrow we will be slaughtering your soldiers," said the masked man. He went on to say,
“You claim to have withdrawn from Iraq four years ago. We said to you then that you are liars.”
"Here we are burying the first American crusader in Dabeq. Eagerly waiting for the remainder of your armies to arrive... And with Allah's permission ... the Islamic State will soon ... begin to slaughter your people in your streets."