The White House says it cannot confirm if a female American hostage was killed in a Jordanian air strike in Syria.
In a statement posted on sympathetic websites on Friday, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group said Kayla Mueller was buried beneath rubble after an air raid by a Jordanian fighter jet in Raqqa, in northern Syria.
The statement did not show any pictures of a body and there was no independent confirmation of her reported death.
The US said on Friday that it had not yet seen any proof to confirm ISIL's claim.
Bernadette Meehan, National Security Council spokesperson, said: "We are obviously deeply concerned by these reports. We have not at this time seen any evidence that corroborates ISIL's claim."
Jordan, one of several Arab countries in the US-led coalition battling ISIL, has dismissed the statement as "criminal propaganda".
Jordan promised a harsh response after ISIL released a video this week showing the burning alive of Moaz al-Kassasbeh, a Jordan air force pilot.
Kassasbeh, whose F-16 jet came down in December while conducting air strikes, was believed to have been killed in early January.
Jordan investigating
Mohammed al-Momani, a Jordanian spokesperson, said on Friday the government is investigating.
"But as a first reaction, we think it's illogical and we are highly sceptical about it," he said.
"How could they identify a Jordanian warplane ... in the sky? What was the American lady doing in a weapons warehouse?"
"It's part of their criminal propaganda. They have lied that our pilot is alive and tried to negotiate, claiming he is alive while they had killed him weeks before."
Mueller's family has urged media to be restrained in their reporting about her purported death.
Tweet Follow @punshcomempower
50% off Hosting for your Website at GoDaddy.com!
It's a BIG Deal! $5.99* .COM from GoDaddy.com!
It's a BIG Deal! $5.99* .COM from GoDaddy.com!
Host a site without stress on namecheap eApps|YOUR APP HOSTING PROVIDER
Submit your Website
Free webmaster resources including SEO Tools, Computer Glossary, Templates Sign up to BIGTIMEBUX today!
0 comments:
Post a Comment