Following the release of the latest ISIS hostage video, United States President Barack Obama has confirmed that Peter Kassig, who reportedly converted to Islam while held captive, is the latest beheading victim. Sunday's video is the fifth video to be released since August of this year, and is different from the others because no body is shown and a final statement is not presented by the killed hostage.
Kassig's parents were unable to raise the ransom amount for their son's freedom over a two-month campaign. But, experts believe that, even if the money had been secured, Kassig's family would have received a cold response from the U.S. government, which has a strict policy against hostage payments.
The Islamic State terrorist group, an off-shoot of al-Qaeda and better known as ISIS, first occupied the Iraqi city of Mosul in June, and this was followed by U.S. air strikes in August and British air support the following month. The first beheading video was released on August 19.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry upheld the American government's staunch position against all forms of terrorism on Monday by clearly stating that the U.S. will not be intimidated by ISIS. While the hooded male with the east London accent who takes charge in the latest video does not give any indication about any further hostage-related activity, he issues a general warning to President Obama, as well as British prime minister, David Cameron. Kerry used the footage to justify the ongoing presence of the U.S. in the Middle East, and U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel confirmed on the same day that training of anti-ISIS Iraqi forces will be upgraded.
A total of 17 unmasked males are present alongside the hooded figure in Sunday's video, leading to a cross-country identification attempt that involves experts from the UK, France, Australia and Asia. A Parisian prosecutor has already stated that one of the men is 22-year-old Maxime Hauchard, while a Welsh father has claimed that his son, a medical student, is also among the group.
