World
Islamic State militants have beheaded another American hostage, Peter Kassig, issuing a video claiming the killing on Sunday and warning the United States they would kill other U.S. citizens "on your streets." Reuters writes:
U.S. President Barack Obama confirmed the death of the aid worker in what he called "an act of pure evil by a terrorist group that the world rightly associates with inhumanity."
The announcement of Kassig's death, the fifth such killing of a Western captive by the group, formed part of a 15-minute video posted online in which Islamic State showed the beheadings of at least 14 men it said were pilots and officers loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Kassig, 26, from Indiana, was also known as Abdul-Rahman, a name he took after converting to Islam in captivity.
His family has said he was taken captive on his way to the Syrian city of Deir al-Zor on Oct. 1, 2013.
“We are heartbroken to learn that our son, Abdul-Rahman Peter Kassig, has lost his life as a result of his love for the Syrian people and his desire to ease their suffering," Ed and Paula Kassig said in a statement. "Our heart also goes out to the families of the Syrians who lost their lives, along with our son."
America's top general has told US troops in Iraq that momentum is turning against Islamic State militants. The BBC reports:
Gen Martin Dempsey, on an unannounced visit, called the militants "midgets" but said the battle against them was likely to take years.
The US has launched air strikes against IS and has more than 1,000 personnel in Iraq to help to train local forces. IS controls huge areas of Iraq and Syria, though Iraqi forces have claimed victory in some recent battles.
The Iraqi army said earlier they had driven IS from around the country's largest oil refinery near the town of Baiji.
On Friday, officials said the military had also retaken Baiji, which had been under militant control since June.
The UN recently accused IS of imposing a rule of terror in some areas of Syria, characterised by public beheadings as well as widespread rape and torture of civilians.
