Iraq: A video that shows the beheading of American Steven Sotloff was delivered as a “second message to America” to halt airstrikes in Iraq, following through on a threat to kill the journalist. In the video posted Tuesday online, Sotloff. says in a message surely scripted by his captors — that he is “paying the price” for U.S. military intervention.
The masked ISIS figure in the video speaks to U.S. President Barack Obama, telling him, “Just as your missiles continue to strike our people, our knife will continue to strike the necks of your people.”
The video also threatens the life of a British captive, David Haines.
At this time, the White House could not confirm the authenticity of the video Sotloff, 31, disappeared while reporting in Syria in August of 2013. However, his family kept the news a secret, saying they feared he would be harmed if they went public.
Last month, ISIS released a video, depicting the beheading of another American journalist, James Foley. In that video, the group warned that Sotloff would meet the same fate unless the United States ended air strikes against them in Iraq.
Last week, Sotloff’s mother, Shirley Sotloff, released a video pleading with ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi not to kill her son. Steven is a journalist who traveled to the Middle East to cover the suffering of Muslims at the hands of tyrants. Steven is a loyal and generous son, brother and grandson,” she said. “He is an honorable man and has always tried to help the weak.
Bureau Report
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