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Obama, family confirm death of ISIS hostage Kayla Mueller

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US President Barack Obama on Tuesday (Feb 10) confirmed the death of Kayla Jean Mueller, who was taken hostage in Syria by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group.

Mr Obama vowed to track down her captors.

“No matter how long it takes, the United States will find and bring to justice the terrorists who are responsible for Kayla’s captivity and death,” he said in a statement.

The 26-year-old aid worker from Arizona was captured in August 2013 in Aleppo, Syria. 

The ISIS claimed last week she had been killed in an air strike by a Jordanian warplane in the Syrian city of Raqqa, the militant group’s self-proclaimed “capital”.

The White House said that over the weekend ISIS had sent Mueller’s family a “private message” with additional information, that was “authenticated” by intelligence, allowing them to confirm her death.

Heartbreak

Parents Carl and Marsha Mueller on Tuesday (Feb 10) voiced their heartbreak at the death of their daughter, but said they were proud of her and the humanitarian work she did.

“We are so proud of the person Kayla was and the work that she did while she was here with us. She lived with purpose, and we will work every day to honour her legacy.”

“Our hearts are breaking for our only daughter, but we will continue on in peace, dignity, and love for her.”

Source: AFP

ISISunited statesaid workerAleppoBarack Obama