Kayla Mueller, the most recent hostage of ISIS, has been confirmed dead.
According to breaking reports, Mueller’s family has now received
confirmation of their daughter’s death. The 26-year-old humanitarian aid
worker had been suspected of being dead now four days at the hands of
the Islamic State.
“We are heartbroken to share that we’ve received confirmation that Kayla Jean Mueller, has lost her life,” Mueller’s parents said in a statement. “Kayla was a compassionate and devoted humanitarian. She dedicated the whole of her young life to helping those in need of freedom, justice, and peace.”
Mueller was captured in Syria in August of 2013 and ISIS claimed to have taken Mueller’s life in a Jordanian air stike in Syria last week. It is reported that U.S. officials said could not confirm ISIS’ claims.
According to NBC News, President Barack Obama expressed his “deepest condolences” on Mueller’s death.
The White House said that Mueller's family received a private message from her captors over the weekend and the information contained in that communication was authenticated by the US intelligence community. It was not immediately clear how and when Mueller died.
"We are heartbroken to share that we've received confirmation that Kayla Jean Mueller, has lost her life," Carl and Marsha Mueller said in a statement. "Kayla was a compassionate and devoted humanitarian. She dedicated the whole of her young life to helping those in need of freedom, justice, and peace."
President Barack Obama said that Mueller, who was an aid worker who assisted humanitarian organisations working with Syrian refugees, "epitomised all that is good in our world."
"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," the president said.
Mueller, is the fourth American to die while being held by Islamic State militants. Three other Americans - journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and aid worker Peter Kassig - were beheaded by the group.
Journalist Austin Tice disappeared in August 2012 while covering Syria's civil war. It's not clear what entity is holding him, but it is not believed to be the Islamic State group or the Syrian government, his family has said.
Mueller was taken into captivity in August 2013 while leaving a hospital in Syria. Her identity was long kept secret out of fears for her safety.
On Friday, the Islamic State had claimed that Mueller died in a Jordanian airstrike. Jordan, which has launched a barrage of strikes in recent days in retaliation for the gruesome killing of one of its pilots at the hands of the militants, disputed that report and the White House said at the time that it had seen no evidence to corroborate the Islamic State claims.
Mueller had been working in Turkey assisting Syrian refugees, according to a 2013 article in The Daily Courier, her hometown newspaper. She told the paper that she was drawn to help with the situation in Syria.
"For as long as I live, I will not let this suffering be normal," she said. "It's important to stop and realise what we have, why we have it and how privileged we are. And from that place, start caring and get a lot done."
According to the newspaper, Mueller had been working with the humanitarian aid agency Support to Life, as well as a local organisation that helped female Syrian refugees develop skills.
A 2007 article about Mueller from the same newspaper said she was a student at Northern Arizona University and was active in the Save Darfur Coalition. A statement from the office of Sen. John McCain, a Republican, said Mueller graduated in 2009 and had worked to help people in need in India, Israel, the Palestinian territories and in Arizona.
HT: NBC News
Paying tribute to her, President Obama said "she represents what is best about America".
Islamic State said she had died in a Jordanian air strike, but the Pentagon says there is "no doubt" IS killed her.
US Navy Rear Admiral John Kirby added that officials have not learned yet how Kayla Mueller died.
"Let's not forget in whose hands this woman died. And let's not forget who's ultimately responsible for it," he said.
Jordan also denied that Ms Mueller had been killed in air strikes launched following the burning alive of captured Jordanian pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh by IS.
Ms Mueller, 26, was abducted while working in Aleppo, Syria in 2013.
"Our hearts are breaking for our only daughter, but we will continue on in peace, dignity, and love for her," her family said in a statement.
In a letter written in 2014, Ms Mueller tries to reassure her family, saying that she had been treated with "utmost respect + kindness".
"I could only but write the letter a paragraph at a time, just the thought of you all sends me into a fit of tears," she wrote.
"I know you would want me to remain strong. That is exactly what I am doing."
'Legacy endures' Ms Mueller's death was determined after her family was contacted privately by her IS captors over the weekend, with US intelligence then confirming the details of the message.
"She has been taken from us, but her legacy endures, inspiring all those who fight, each in their own way, for what is just and what is decent," President Obama said in a statement.
"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."
In an interview with BuzzFeed News, the president also rejected the suggestion that the US could have done more to free Ms Mueller.
Mr Obama said that he had launched a rescue operation in 2014 to free Ms Mueller and other hostages but that it had "missed them by a day or two".
He added: "We devoted enormous resources and always devote enormous resources to freeing captives or hostages anywhere in the world."
The Muellers released new photos of their daughter after her death was confirmed
Ms Mueller studied at Northern Arizona University
The family released this letter written while Ms Mueller was being held, parts of which have been redacted
Neither the White House nor her family have given the circumstances behind her death.
But White House spokesman Josh Earnest said regardless of the cause, ultimately it was IS who was responsible for her death because they were the ones holding her.
"That means they are responsible for her safety and her well-being. And they are therefore responsible for her death," he said.
Her family have said they are "heartbroken" by their loss
Three other US citizens - journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and aid worker Peter Kassig - were beheaded by IS.
Mr Earnest said at least one other US citizen was being held hostage in the Middle East, without elaborating.
The militants' claims that Ms Mueller was killed by a Jordanian air strike were dismissed by Jordan as propaganda.
Washington has also cast doubt on the claims, with Mr Earnest saying there was "no evidence of civilians in the target area prior to the coalition strike taking place".
Ms Mueller worked with a number of humanitarian organisations at home and abroad.
She travelled to the Turkey-Syria border in 2012 to work with refugees.
Prominent foreign IS hostages killed:
“We are heartbroken to share that we’ve received confirmation that Kayla Jean Mueller, has lost her life,” Mueller’s parents said in a statement. “Kayla was a compassionate and devoted humanitarian. She dedicated the whole of her young life to helping those in need of freedom, justice, and peace.”
Mueller was captured in Syria in August of 2013 and ISIS claimed to have taken Mueller’s life in a Jordanian air stike in Syria last week. It is reported that U.S. officials said could not confirm ISIS’ claims.
According to NBC News, President Barack Obama expressed his “deepest condolences” on Mueller’s death.
“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 calling ISIS a “hateful and abhorrent terrorist group.”We just hope and pray that the President is serious about his commitment to bring justice to Kayla’s death—and all of the innocent lives who have died at the hand of ISIS. So far, he has shown more sympathy for the terrorists through his actions and only given lip service to true justice. God help us if our President continues on that course.
The White House said that Mueller's family received a private message from her captors over the weekend and the information contained in that communication was authenticated by the US intelligence community. It was not immediately clear how and when Mueller died.
"We are heartbroken to share that we've received confirmation that Kayla Jean Mueller, has lost her life," Carl and Marsha Mueller said in a statement. "Kayla was a compassionate and devoted humanitarian. She dedicated the whole of her young life to helping those in need of freedom, justice, and peace."
President Barack Obama said that Mueller, who was an aid worker who assisted humanitarian organisations working with Syrian refugees, "epitomised all that is good in our world."
Mueller, is the fourth American to die while being held by Islamic State militants. Three other Americans - journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and aid worker Peter Kassig - were beheaded by the group.
Journalist Austin Tice disappeared in August 2012 while covering Syria's civil war. It's not clear what entity is holding him, but it is not believed to be the Islamic State group or the Syrian government, his family has said.
Mueller was taken into captivity in August 2013 while leaving a hospital in Syria. Her identity was long kept secret out of fears for her safety.
On Friday, the Islamic State had claimed that Mueller died in a Jordanian airstrike. Jordan, which has launched a barrage of strikes in recent days in retaliation for the gruesome killing of one of its pilots at the hands of the militants, disputed that report and the White House said at the time that it had seen no evidence to corroborate the Islamic State claims.
Mueller had been working in Turkey assisting Syrian refugees, according to a 2013 article in The Daily Courier, her hometown newspaper. She told the paper that she was drawn to help with the situation in Syria.
"For as long as I live, I will not let this suffering be normal," she said. "It's important to stop and realise what we have, why we have it and how privileged we are. And from that place, start caring and get a lot done."
According to the newspaper, Mueller had been working with the humanitarian aid agency Support to Life, as well as a local organisation that helped female Syrian refugees develop skills.
A 2007 article about Mueller from the same newspaper said she was a student at Northern Arizona University and was active in the Save Darfur Coalition. A statement from the office of Sen. John McCain, a Republican, said Mueller graduated in 2009 and had worked to help people in need in India, Israel, the Palestinian territories and in Arizona.
HT: NBC News
Kayla Mueller's aunts, Terri Crippes and Lori Lyon: ''Kayla has touched the heart of the world... the world grieves with us''
The
US has confirmed the death of aid worker Kayla Mueller, the last
American hostage known to be held by Islamic State (IS) militants in
Syria.
Her family said they were "heartbroken" to learn the news, and released a letter written during her captivity.Paying tribute to her, President Obama said "she represents what is best about America".
Islamic State said she had died in a Jordanian air strike, but the Pentagon says there is "no doubt" IS killed her.
US Navy Rear Admiral John Kirby added that officials have not learned yet how Kayla Mueller died.
"Let's not forget in whose hands this woman died. And let's not forget who's ultimately responsible for it," he said.
Jordan also denied that Ms Mueller had been killed in air strikes launched following the burning alive of captured Jordanian pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh by IS.
President Obama: "We always devote enormous resources to freeing captives or hostages anywhere in the world"
"Our hearts are breaking for our only daughter, but we will continue on in peace, dignity, and love for her," her family said in a statement.
In a letter written in 2014, Ms Mueller tries to reassure her family, saying that she had been treated with "utmost respect + kindness".
"I could only but write the letter a paragraph at a time, just the thought of you all sends me into a fit of tears," she wrote.
"I know you would want me to remain strong. That is exactly what I am doing."
'Legacy endures' Ms Mueller's death was determined after her family was contacted privately by her IS captors over the weekend, with US intelligence then confirming the details of the message.
"She has been taken from us, but her legacy endures, inspiring all those who fight, each in their own way, for what is just and what is decent," President Obama said in a statement.
"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."
In an interview with BuzzFeed News, the president also rejected the suggestion that the US could have done more to free Ms Mueller.
Mr Obama said that he had launched a rescue operation in 2014 to free Ms Mueller and other hostages but that it had "missed them by a day or two".
He added: "We devoted enormous resources and always devote enormous resources to freeing captives or hostages anywhere in the world."
The Muellers released new photos of their daughter after her death was confirmed
Ms Mueller studied at Northern Arizona University
The family released this letter written while Ms Mueller was being held, parts of which have been redacted
But White House spokesman Josh Earnest said regardless of the cause, ultimately it was IS who was responsible for her death because they were the ones holding her.
"That means they are responsible for her safety and her well-being. And they are therefore responsible for her death," he said.
Her family have said they are "heartbroken" by their loss
Mr Earnest said at least one other US citizen was being held hostage in the Middle East, without elaborating.
The militants' claims that Ms Mueller was killed by a Jordanian air strike were dismissed by Jordan as propaganda.
Washington has also cast doubt on the claims, with Mr Earnest saying there was "no evidence of civilians in the target area prior to the coalition strike taking place".
Ms Mueller worked with a number of humanitarian organisations at home and abroad.
She travelled to the Turkey-Syria border in 2012 to work with refugees.
- Sergey Gorbunov, a Russian engineer, thought to have been killed April 2014
- James Foley, US journalist, killed August 2014
- Steven Sotloff, US journalist, killed September 2014
- David Haines, British aid worker, killed September 2014
- Alan Henning, British aid worker, killed October 2014
- Abdul-Rahman Kassig, US aid worker, killed November 2014
- Moaz al-Kasasbeh, Jordanian pilot, killed January 2015
- Haruna Yukawa, Japanese military contractor, killed January 2015
- Kenji Goto, Japanese journalist, killed January 2015
- Kayla Jean Mueller, US aid worker, killed February 2015, according to IS in coalition air strike
- Marc Marginedas, Javier Espinosa and Ricardo García Vilanova, Spanish journalists, released March 2014
- Didier François, Edouard Elias, Nicolas Hénin and Pierre Torres, French journalists, released April 2014
- Federico Motka, Italian aid worker, released May 2014
- Five Doctors Without Borders workers (Swiss, Danish, Belgian, Swedish and Peruvian citizens) released April-May 2014
- Daniel Rye Ottosen, Danish journalist, released June 2014
- 46 Turkish hostages and 3 Iraqis including employees of the Turkish consulate, their families and special forces police, released September 2014
- Toni Neukirch, German citizen, also released
