In a horrifying act of revenge for U.S. airstrikes in northern Iraq, militants with the Islamic State extremist group have beheaded American journalist James Foley — and are threatening to kill another hostage, identified as former UCF student Steven Sotloff, U.S. officials said.
The White House must now weigh the risks of adopting an aggressive policy to destroy the Islamic State against resisting any action that could result in the death of another American.
It will also confront the potentially necessary step of pursuing the Islamic State in Syria, where President Barack Obama has resisted launching airstrikes or deploying significant American firepower.
Obama was expected to make a statement Wednesday about Foley's killing.
U.S. officials confirmed a grisly video released Tuesday showing Islamic State militants beheading Foley. Separately, Foley's family confirmed his death in a statement posted on a Facebook page that was created to rally support for his release, saying they "have never been prouder of him."
"He gave his life trying to expose the world to the suffering of the Syrian people," said the statement, which was attributed to Foley's mother, Diane Foley. She implored the militants to spare the lives of other hostages. "Like Jim, they are innocents. They have no control over American government policy in Iraq, Syria or anywhere in the world."
Foley, 40, from Rochester, New Hampshire, went missing in northern Syria in November 2012 while freelancing for Agence France-Presse and the Boston-based media company GlobalPost. The car he was riding in was stopped by four militants in a contested battle zone that both Sunni rebel fighters and government forces were trying to control. He had not been heard from since.
The beheading marks the first time the Islamic State has killed an American citizen since the Syrian conflict broke out in March 2011, upping the stakes in an increasingly chaotic and multilayered war. The killing is likely to complicate U.S. involvement in Iraq and the Obama administration's efforts to contain the group as it expands in both Iraq and Syria.
The group is the heir apparent of the militancy known as al-Qaida in Iraq, which beheaded many of its victims, including American businessman Nicholas Berg in 2004.
The video released on websites Tuesday appears to show the increasing sophistication of the Islamic State group's media unit and begins with scenes of Obama explaining his decision to order airstrikes.
Steven Sotloff's Central Florida ties
The other hostage featured in the graphic video of James Foley’s beheading is believed to be journalist Steven Sotloff.
Before Sotloff traveled to report in war torn areas, he grew up in Miami and went to school at UCF. He was pursuing a journalism degree between 2002 and 2004. However, UCF officials say they do not have a record that he finished his degree.
UCF released a statement:
“This is an unspeakably terrible circumstance. We join so many others who hope for Steven’s safe return.”
For now ISIL, also known as ISIS, said Sotloff’s life depends on how the US responds to their demand to end airstrikes in Iraq.
In a screen shot from the graphic video posted by Iraqi militants, a man dressed in an orange jumpsuit, kneeling in the desert is believed to be American journalist Sotloff.
An Iraqi militant is seen standing over him.
The terrorist said that Sotloff could be the next prisoner killed.
According to Sotloff’s official Twitter page, he describes himself as a standup philosopher and was currently in Libya in August of 2013.
He has been published in Time magazine and a number of other news publications.
Officials believe Sotloff was kidnapped at the Syria-Turkey border last year. He was covering the war in Syria at the time.
Just days before Sotloff was taken, one of his last tweets shows images from the conflict in Syria.
His last post on August 3, 2013 is about his love for his NBA team the Miami Heat.
His family has not made a public statement, but friends of his family are speaking out on social media and urging others to sign a White House petition to free Sotloff. The petition had about 95,000 signatures as of 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The Committee to Protect journalists said Syria is the most dangerous country for journalists. They said at least 69 journalists have been killed there covering the civil war and at least 80 others have been kidnapped.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
UCF Statement
Vice President for Communications and Marketing, Grant J. Heston issued the following statement Wednesday:
This is an unspeakably terrible circumstance. We join so many others who hope for Steven’s safe return.
Sen. Bill Nelson statement
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) issued the following statement Wednesday:
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the murdered journalist and those still held captive, including a reporter who grew up in my state.
The inhumane and brutal nature of this crime shows just how barbaric this group really is.
Those who committed this atrocity must and will be brought to justice. We have to continue to take the fight to ISIS, not only in Iraq but in Syria as well. Otherwise, they will continue to threaten Americans and the interests of our country.
Sen. Marco Rubio statement
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued the following statement late Tuesday night:
The brutal execution of American journalist James Foley by ISIL is the latest example of the evil and barbarism of these terrorists. My thoughts and prayers are with the Foley family and with other Western hostages who at this hour are still being held.
Just as Al Qaeda’s initial killings of Americans abroad foretold the carnage they would unleash within our borders, this barbaric beheading of a defenseless hostage is the clearest indication to date that ISIL has declared war on the United States, on the American people, and on freedom loving people everywhere.
For more than a year, ISIL has been murdering civilians, raping women and young girls and enslaving them, and carrying out a systematic genocide of anyone who does not share their warped and extremist Islamist views. ISIL cannot be reasoned with, they can’t be negotiated with, and their view of the world is irreconcilable with civilized society.
ates, President Obama continues to appear unwilling to do what is necessary to confront ISIL and communicate clearly to the American people about the threat ISIL poses to our country and to our way of life
ISIL is not a problem for only Iraqis or Syrians to solve. A piecemeal approach will not eliminate the growing threat to the United States and our allies. If we do not do more to assist our Iraqi partners and those moderate Syrians who are fighting ISIL and directly target ISIL’s leadership and networks in Iraq and Syria, I fear that James Foley will not be the only American to die at their hands.