File picture taken September 29, 2011 shows US freelance reporter James Foley resting in a room at the airport of Sirte, Libya
AFP
Jihadist group the Islamic State posted a video Tuesday showing the apparent execution of American journalist James Foley and threatened to kill a second reporter unless the United States halts air strikes in Iraq.
The video released by the Islamist group showed a masked militant beheading a man resembling Foley, who has been missing since he was seized in Syria in November 2012.
A second captive, said to be US reporter Steven Sotloff, is shown alive, along with a warning that his fate rests on US President Barack Obama ordering a halt to strikes against the jihadist group.
The White House said US intelligence was studying the video, and that President Barack Obama had been briefed on it as he flew from Washington to resume his vacation on Martha's Vineyard.
"If genuine, we are appalled by the brutal murder of an innocent American journalist and we express our deepest condolences to his family and friends," National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said.
Foley was an experienced correspondent who had covered the war in Libya before heading to Syria to follow the revolt against Bashar al-Assad's regime, contributing to news site GlobalPost, Agence France-Presse (AFP) and other media outlets.
"On behalf of John and Diane Foley, and also GlobalPost, we deeply appreciate all of the messages of sympathy and support that have poured in since the news of Jim's possible execution first broke," said GlobalPost co-founder and CEO Philip Balboni.
AFP chairman Emmanuel Hoog said: "James was working as a brave, independent and impartial journalist covering the dangerous Syrian conflict when he was kidnapped in November 2012.
"His work for AFP and other media organizations was widely admired. Nothing could justify his incarceration or any threats against his life. Our thoughts are with his family at this very difficult time."
Mother of Foley 'never prouder' of son
The mother of American journalist James Foley, apparently executed by Islamic State jihadists, on Wednesday paid tribute to her son who she said had died trying to expose the suffering of the Syrian people.
Condolences and shocked messages poured in after the Islamist group released a video showing a masked militant beheading a man resembling Foley, who has been missing since he was seized in Syria November 2012.
"We have never been prouder of our son Jim. He gave his life trying to expose the world to the suffering of the Syrian people," Foley's mother Diane said in a Facebook message to supporters.
"We implore the kidnappers to spare the lives of the remaining hostages. Like Jim, they are innocents. They have no control over American government policy in Iraq, Syria or anywhere in the world.
"We thank Jim for all the joy he gave us. He was an extraordinary son, brother, journalist and person."
