Last Updated: Wednesday, 31 May 2023, 15:44 GMT

Syria: IS claims Jordan air strike kills female U.S. hostage

Publisher Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Publication Date 6 February 2015
Cite as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Syria: IS claims Jordan air strike kills female U.S. hostage, 6 February 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5509403b7.html [accessed 5 June 2023]
DisclaimerThis is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

February 06, 2015

A statement reportedly by the Islamic State (IS) group says a female American hostage has been killed in a Jordanian air strike outside the northern Syrian city of Raqqa.

The U.S. State Department said it could not confirm the claim in the statement, which appeared on a militant website commonly used by IS.

The White House said it was "deeply concerned" but that it had not seen "any evidence" to support the claim made by IS.

Jordan said it had conducted air strikes on IS positions in Syria but that the claims its air strikes killed an American hostage were a "PR stunt."

The statement identified the woman as Kayla Jean Mueller and said she died in an air strike during Friday Prayers.

It said air strikes struck the area "for more than an hour."

Photos of the alleged bombing site were included, showing a damaged three-story building.

The White House did not have any immediate comment.

Mueller is an aid worker whose identity had not been previously disclosed for safety reasons.

Based on reporting by AP and AFP

Link to original story on RFE/RL website

Copyright notice: Copyright (c) 2007-2009. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036

Search Refworld