In video, Islamic State threatens to kill 2 Japanese hostages
An online video purports to show Islamic State militants with two hostages they identify as Japanese nationals Kenji Goto Jogo and Haruna Yukawa. The militants in the video threaten to kill the hostages unless the Islamic State is paid $200 million within 72 hours. Ref. USAToday
Hostages Mother Pleads For His Release As Islamic State Ransom Deadline Looms
Local Japanese News In English
The distraught mother of a Japanese journalist held captive by the Islamic State group made an eleventh-hour plea for her son's safe release Friday morning. (Japan Times)
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Operation Inherent Resolve Airstrikes Continue In Syria Iraq
US Military News
U.S. and coalition military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported.
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One of two Japanese men held hostage by ISIS has been killed after a deadline for ransom passed, according to a video posted online today by a known ISIS supporter.
The video appears to show a static image of surviving Japanese hostage Kenji Goto, dressed in orange, holding a photo of what appears to be beheaded compatriot Haruna Yukawa.
The posting came four days after an ISIS video demanded that the Japanese government pay $200 million for the hostages' release.
On the video, a voice makes a new ISIS demand -- the release of Sajida Rishawi, a woman that he says is being held by Jordanian authorities. Ref. CNN
Jordan's state news agency is reporting that the country is prepared to exchange Jordanian pilot Mu'ath al-Kaseasbeh, who is being held by the Islamic State, for an Iraqi woman sentenced to death in Jordan for her involvement in a 2005 terror attack that killed 60 people, according to the Associated Press. It is not clear if Japanese national Kenji Goto, also held by Islamic State, would be part of any such deal. The Japanese government has not commented. Ref. USAToday
What ISIS is seeking to establish by this is that they do not linger on negations and if you fall into your hands you are basically dead. Killing journalists is not going to help their cause any and it will only cause the nations of those killed to enter into the war.