An Islamic State video has appeared which purports to show the beheading of Steven Sotloff, a US journalist being held hostage by the militants.



Mr Sotloff, 31, disappeared in Syria in 2013. He appeared at the end of a video last month which showed fellow US journalist James Foley being killed.

After Mr Foley's death, Mr Sotloff's mother appealed to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to save her son's life.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said US officials were checking the reports.

The US has recently carried out dozens of air strikes against IS targets in Iraq.

BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says the apparent beheading is a way for IS to get back at the US for its actions.

The video shows a masked figure together with Mr Sotloff, who is dressed in an orange jumpsuit.

The masked man describes the act he is about to commit as retribution for the US air strikes.

"I'm back, Obama, and I'm back because of your arrogant foreign policy towards the Islamic State... despite our serious warnings," the fighter said.

"We take this opportunity to warn those governments that enter this evil alliance of America against the Islamic State to back off and leave our people alone."

The video ends with the militant threatening to kill another Western captive.
Mr Earnest urged caution about the veracity of the video.

"Our thoughts and prayers, first and foremost, are with Mr Sotloff and Mr Sotloff's family and those who worked with him," he said.

"I'm not in a position to confirm the authenticity of that video or the reports."

"If there is a video that's been released, it's something that will be analysed very carefully by the US government and our intelligence officials to establish its authenticity."

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29038217

behead a prisoner -> call the others evil - great logics

Yeah but if that beheaded prisoner not guilty of anything then why the punishment..

calling some an adjective is not as gruesome as beheading a person...imagine if that beheaded person was immediate family 

Im sorry for the reporters family and loved ones. Now, do these idiots actually think the United States is going to bow down to them because they kill one of our own? What's the end game here? I don't get it. Because if anything, all you are doing is begging the United States to come and kill you, cause that's what we are gonna do. These dumb fools continue to give their people and their religion a bad name and I feel bad for the peaceful people. Dont worry ISIS people, we are coming to kill you, believe that.

It is.. For them its one life against thousand with those drone attacks.. They think they are more humaine by doing it this way..

Killing innocent life should never be condoned..imagine if that were your family..yeah drone attacks are bad, but this is too

I think he was being sarcastic with the "great logic" comment,   enferring that ISIS is hypocritical to call others evil while they themselves are commiting evil acts.

and i dont think Nikkom was condoning the beheading, but simply offering a explanitory view of the mindset of the ISIS fighters.

Killing innocent life should be condoned..imagine if that were your family..yeah drone attacks are bad, but this is too

1. Condone: accept and allow (behavior that is considered morally wrong or offensive) to continue.

   "the college cannot condone any behavior that involves illicit drugs"

   synonyms:

   disregard, accept, allow, let pass, turn a blind eye to, overlook, forget; More

   • approve or sanction (something), especially with reluctance.

     "the practice is not officially condoned by any airline"

Not good but i somehow expect a war out of this soon enough. At least thats what the stupid congress of yours seems to want.

Remember "an eye for an eye, makes the world go blind"- Gandhi

and that is the truth with the way the west invades some places, screws it over and then out of the ash some extremist groups comes about like IS has.

I feel sorry for these journalists but don't turn them into some martyr for yet another stupid war.