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Islamic State claims American hostage killed in bombing in Syria Islamic State claims American hostage killed in bombing in Syria
(35 minutes later)
The Islamic State on Friday claimed that a 26-year-old Arizona woman being held hostage by the group in Syria was killed after Jordanian fighter planes bombed a building where she was being held. The Islamic State on Friday claimed that a 26-year-old Arizona woman taken hostage by the group in Syria was killed after Jordanian fighter planes bombed a building where she was being held.
The claim could not be immediately verified nor was it clear that Jordanian planes had bombed that location, described as being in Raqqa, the group’s de facto capital. The group released photos showing rubble of a building it claimed had been struck in airstrikes, but no images of the hostage, Kayla Mueller.The claim could not be immediately verified nor was it clear that Jordanian planes had bombed that location, described as being in Raqqa, the group’s de facto capital. The group released photos showing rubble of a building it claimed had been struck in airstrikes, but no images of the hostage, Kayla Mueller.
In a statement, the Islamic State released Mueller’s phone numbers and other personal information.In a statement, the Islamic State released Mueller’s phone numbers and other personal information.
“The criminal Crusader coalition aircraft bombarded a site outside the city of ar-Raqqah today at noon while the people were performing the Friday prayer,” the Islamic State said. “The air assaults were continuous on the same location for more than an hour.”“The criminal Crusader coalition aircraft bombarded a site outside the city of ar-Raqqah today at noon while the people were performing the Friday prayer,” the Islamic State said. “The air assaults were continuous on the same location for more than an hour.”
U.S. officials said they were aware of the claim but could not authenticate it. A family spokeswoman declined to comment.
Mueller would be the fourth American hostage to die since August while being held by the Islamic State. Her name had previously not been made public at the urging of her family and the FBI, which feared the disclosure could put her in greater danger.Mueller would be the fourth American hostage to die since August while being held by the Islamic State. Her name had previously not been made public at the urging of her family and the FBI, which feared the disclosure could put her in greater danger.
Mueller moved to an area along Turkey’s border with Syria in late 2012 and worked for a humanitarian organization known as Support to Life. She had been helping families fleeing the violence in Syria.Mueller moved to an area along Turkey’s border with Syria in late 2012 and worked for a humanitarian organization known as Support to Life. She had been helping families fleeing the violence in Syria.
In August 2013, Mueller was working at a hospital with Spanish Doctors Without Borders in Aleppo when she was kidnapped. In August 2013, Mueller was working at a hospital with Spanish Doctors Without Borders in Aleppo when she was kidnapped. Her family later received proof-of-life evidence from her captors as well as an e-mail demanding a ransom of several million euros. They threatened to kill her if the ransom wasn’t paid by mid-August.
Her family later received proof-of-life evidence from her captors as well as an e-mail demanding a ransom of several million euros. They threatened to kill her if the ransom wasn’t paid by mid-August.
A U.S. intelligence official said authorities were mindful of the possibility that the Islamic State might claim that a hostage had been killed in an airstrike by the U.S.-led coalition. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said there were no negotiations with the Islamic State.A U.S. intelligence official said authorities were mindful of the possibility that the Islamic State might claim that a hostage had been killed in an airstrike by the U.S.-led coalition. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said there were no negotiations with the Islamic State.
Mueller, a native of Prescott, Ariz., had a desire to help the disadvantaged dating back to high school. She volunteered with Save Darfur Coalition, writing letters and calling members of Congress, according an article in the Daily Courier, the Prescott newspaper. Although Arab nations, including Jordan, have participated in what have been about 1,000 coalition airstrikes in Syria since September, the vast majority of them have been carried out by the United States. Jordan vowed to step up its own airstrikes after the Islamic State released a video Tuesday depicting the burning death of a Jordanian fighter pilot who had crashed in Syria.
In recent days, none of the strikes announced by the U.S. Central Command have indicated targets near the Islamic State headquarters in the north-central Syrian city of Raqqa, where the coalition has been reluctant to drop bombs because of the risk of civilian casualties.
A Central Command spokesman said in a statement that officials were “unable to confirm details on any of today’s airstrikes” until Saturday.
Asked about Jordanian strike missions, the spokesman said “out of respect for our coalition partners, we defer to them to characterize the level of their participation.”
Mueller, a native of Prescott, Ariz., had a desire to help the disadvantaged dating back to high school. She volunteered with the Save Darfur Coalition, writing letters and calling members of Congress, according an article in the Daily Courier, the Prescott newspaper.
She told the newspaper in 2007: “I always feel that no matter how much I give I always get back more through these projects.”She told the newspaper in 2007: “I always feel that no matter how much I give I always get back more through these projects.”
Mueller graduated from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff in 2009. After college, she traveled to India, working in an orphanage and teaching English to Tibetan refugees.Mueller graduated from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff in 2009. After college, she traveled to India, working in an orphanage and teaching English to Tibetan refugees.
In 2011, she returned to Arizona, volunteering at a women’s shelter and working at an HIV/AIDS clinic. Later that year, she flew to France to become an au pair with the goal of learning French and then working in Africa. Instead, she decided she wanted to help families caught in the Syrian conflict and headed to Turkey.In 2011, she returned to Arizona, volunteering at a women’s shelter and working at an HIV/AIDS clinic. Later that year, she flew to France to become an au pair with the goal of learning French and then working in Africa. Instead, she decided she wanted to help families caught in the Syrian conflict and headed to Turkey.
In May 2013, she briefly returned to Arizona and appeared at an event at the Prescott Kiwanis Club, where she talked about her time helping Syrian children at refugee camps and her frustration with the situation in the wartorn country. In May 2013, she briefly returned to Arizona and appeared at an event at the Prescott Kiwanis Club, where she talked about her time helping Syrian children at refugee camps and her frustration with the situation in the war-torn country.
“When Syrians hear I’m an American, they ask, ‘Where is the world?’ All I can do is cry with them, because I don’t know,” she said. “When Syrians hear I’m an American, they ask, ‘Where is the world?’ All I can do is cry with them, because I don’t know,’ ” she said.