Once again, the militant group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has released a video showing the beheading of another American. This time the video shows the beheading of freelance American journalist 31-year-old Steven Sotloff.
The video begins with Sotloff identifying himself in the footage titled, “A Second Message to America.”
In the video the executioner said in an English accent, “I’m back, Obama, because of your arrogant foreign policy towards the Islamic State, because of your insistence on continuing your bombings. Our knife will continue to strike the necks of your people.” He made this statement as he held a blade to Sotloff’s neck, then as the journalist struggled to his knees, the executioner began to saw at his neck.
In a warning to the president, the executioner stated that the same fate awaits David Cawthorne Haines if the White House does not bend to the will of the ISIL.
This latest videotaped murder came despite pleading by Sotloff’s mother last week where she pled for mercy on her son’s life.
Sotloff has been missing for over a year after his kidnapping in northern Syria in August of 2013.
The executioner in the video appears to be the same person that appeared in the execution video of James Foley, who died at their hands two weeks ago.
U.S. officials believe that Sotloff was murdered shortly after Foley’s murder two weeks ago and that the release of the video was delayed to achieve the impact and shock effect wanted by the extremists. They believe that Haines is most likely already dead as well.
The National Security Council and other intelligence agencies have yet to weigh in on the authenticity of the video.