'IS' hostage Mueller is dead

On Tuesday, US President Barack Obama announced that Kayla Jean Mueller, a 26-year-old American aid worker held hostage by the "Islamic State" (IS), had died during her imprisonment. It was not immediately announced how or when she had died.

"No matter how long it takes, the United States will find and bring to justice the terrorists who are responsible for Kayla's captivity and death," Obama said in a statement released Tuesday. He called IS a "hateful and abhorrent terrorist group."

Members of IS claimed last week that Mueller had been killed during a massive series of bombings conducted by the Jordanian military to avenge the death of a fighter pilot. IS had posted a video of the man burning to death in a cage.

"We are heartbroken to share that we've received confirmation that Kayla Jean Mueller has lost her life," the woman's parents, Carl and Marsha, said in a statement released Tuesday. "Kayla was a compassionate and devoted humanitarian. She dedicated the whole of her young life to helping those in need of freedom, justice and peace."

mkg/kms (Reuters, AFP, AP)