White House says appalled by murder of Kassig, if confirmed

The same video showed the gruesome simultaneous beheadings of at least 18 men described as Syrian military personnel.

US intelligence is trying to ascertain the authenticity of a video purportedly showing the murder of US citizen Peter Kassig by the dreaded IS militant group, which if true is appalling, the White House today said.

“We are aware of a video that claims to show the murder of US citizen Peter Kassig by IS. The intelligence community is working as quickly as possible to determine its authenticity,” National Security Council Spokesperson Bernadette Meehan said.

“If confirmed, we are appalled by the brutal murder of an innocent American aid worker and we express our deepest condolences to his family and friends. We will provide more information when it is available,” Meehan said.

Story continues below this ad

The video emerged just minutes after President Barack Obama departed Australia for the US after attending the G20 summit.

Kassig, 26, was captured last year while helping provide medical aid to Syrians. His friends say he converted to Islam in captivity and changed his name to Abdul-Rahman.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick (Image: Piyush Goyal X/File Photo)

India, US start drafting trade deal; US delegation likely to visit India: Official

Business7 hr ago

India and the US are in talks to finalize a trade deal following successful negotiations in Washington. India's Commerce Minister has stated that any deal will prioritize national interest and explore new markets. He also stressed the importance of making decisions in the best interest of the country, rather than under pressure.

View all shorts

Live Blog

PHOTOS