The last American hostage being held by the Islamic State is dead.
The terrorist group announced Friday the death of a 26-year-old female American hostage, the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist activity, reported. The hostage, an aid worker, was captured in Syria in August 2013 with other aid workers who had reportedly been released last year.
#ISIS: Due to airstrike near Raqqah today, “It was confirmed to us the killing of the American…Kayla Jean Mueller” pic.twitter.com/fXev9Opa1c
— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) February 6, 2015
The Islamic State said she was killed when a Jordanian aircraft struck the building in which she was in located in Syria’s ar-Raqqah area around noon local time.
“The failed Jordanian aircraft killed an American female hostage,” the Islamic State’s message said.. “No mujahid [fighter] was injured in the bombardment, and all praise is due to Allah.”
Jordan has been conducting an increased amount of airstrikes in retaliation after the Islamic State released a video showing the murder of Jordanian pilot First Lt. Moaz al-Kasasbeh. The 26-year-old pilot was captured in December after his fighter jet was downed in Syria while assign in U.S.-led airstrikes against the terror group.
The latest victim’s name, according to SITE, was released by the Islamic State as Kayla Jean Mueller. Along with photos of the rubble, they released her phone numbers and Arizona address. No image of her has been released.
“We don’t have anything for you right now,” the National Security Council said about the news, unable to confirm her death.
Jordan’s Interior Minister Lt. Gen. Hussein Al-Majali called the reports “another PR stunt by ISIS,” on CNN.
The Islamic State was reportedly demanding $6 million for her release, the Daily Beast reported in November.
Should her death hold true, she will be the fourth American hostage who died in the hands of the Islamic State.
