’ISIL’ Announces Death of American Hostage by Amman Strikes
Local Editor
The "ISIL" terrorist group said a coalition air strike Friday killed an American woman it was holding hostage in Syria, in a claim that could not be immediately verified.
In Jordan, meanwhile, thousands of people marched to demand retribution against "ISIL" for murdering a captive pilot.
The group's claim came as Amman said dozens of its jet fighters had struck "ISIL", widening their campaign from Syria to include targets in neighboring Iraq.
In a statement on its extremists' websites, "ISIL" said the woman, whom it named as Kayla Jean Mueller, was buried under rubble after a raid by a Jordanian warplane in Raqa.
"The plane from the crusader coalition bombed a position outside the city of Raqa after Friday prayers," it said.
"No fighter was wounded but we can confirm that an American hostage was killed in the strikes."
The statement did not show any pictures of a body and there was no independent confirmation of the claim.
US officials declined to comment.
"I cannot confirm those reports in any way. I'm not going into specifics of Americans held overseas," State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said.
Carl and Marsha Mueller, the parents of Kayla Jean Mueller, asked "ISIL" to contact them privately, according to a statement released by a family representative.
"This news leaves us concerned, yet, we are still hopeful that Kayla is alive," they said in the message.
In a message directed to "those in positions of responsibility for holding Kayla," they said: "You told us that you treated Kayla as your guest, as your guest her safety and well-being remains your responsibility."
Earlier Friday, thousands of people marched in Amman in solidarity with Maaz al-Kassasbeh, the young Jordanian pilot whose burning alive "ISIL" showed in a video released this week.
"We are all Maaz... We are all Jordan," they chanted, some holding placards aloft that read: "Yes to punishment. Yes to the eradication of terrorism."
Jordan's Queen Rania joined the marchers after weekly prayers at the al-Husseini mosque, holding a portrait of the pilot with the words "Maaz the martyr of righteousness."
Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh declined to reveal Amman's military plans but said it would hit the militants with all its might.
"We're going to go after them and we will eradicate them... We are at the forefront. This is our fight," he told CNN late Thursday.
Asked by Fox News if Jordan was now also targeting "ISIL" in Iraq, he replied: "That's right. Today, more Syria than Iraq. It is an ongoing effort."
He added: "They are in Iraq and they are in Syria and therefore you have to target them wherever they are."
American F-16 and F-22 jets provided cover for the Jordanian warplanes, with additional support from refueling tankers and surveillance aircraft, US officials said.
On Thursday, King Abdullah II and Queen Rania visited Kassasbeh's family, which has urged the government to "destroy" the extremists, to pay their condolences.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
Comments
person JB
Devil\'s workers!!!
ISIS, you are the Devil's workers. I hope anyone who supports you and believes in your way suffers and dies. You put a bad name to Muslims. You are not true believer in Islam. And who are YOU ISIS to dictate how somebody practices their religion? Your piece of vile leader Abu Bakr al Bagdadi can die too! Do you think Prophet Muhammad killed anyone who did not believe what he taught? NO he did not! Outwardly ISIS may appear scary and a force who is dominant (and I admit they are), but the truth is that they are the weakest of all human form. That is why they hurt innocent people. The same amount of mercy you have on your innocent victims, God will have on you. May hot fire fill your bellies! The children under ISIS control are considered innocent victims in my opinion as they have no choice to independently think and reason on their own. If they did, they surely would not choose the ISIS way. May God have mercy on the children. Rot in HELL ISIS, you (expletive).
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