you were a friend to kassig. you met him two years ago when he was beginning the journey that would see him end up in syria. tell bus that. >> reporter: that audio you just played there, pam, that really epitomizes so much what peter stood for. it brings a sad smile to one's face because he was trying in his own way not just to help the wounded syrians he was treating or deliver humanitarian aid but build an ever so small bridge between result turs. he felt that through his experiences with the wounded syrians, with the syrians he was trying to help he could somehow bring about perhaps less hatred of the united states, of the western world, bring about a measure of understanding that not all americans were out to get the middle east, that there were individuals like him that genuinely wanted to help and vice versa as well whenever he would speak to friends and family back home at the u.s. he would give them this entire different take on syria perhaps the one they were used to. we first met him back in 2012 in a h

citizen peter kassig by isil. the intelligence community is working as quickly as possible to determine the authenticity. if confirmed, we're appalled by the brutal murder of an innocent american aide worker and express our deepest condolences to family and friends and provide more information whether it is available. joe, you covered a number of these. i've covered a number of these over the last several months. we both know this is pretty much the boiler plate response from the national security council staff when something like this happens. but as the hours go on into tomorrow, we should have more of a statement coming out of the white house, i would thishgs one from the president as well. that, of course, takes time to formulate that sort of statement. and whether or not there are contacts with the family and so forth. so all of the detail will come out, i think, over time in the next 24 hours joe and christie. >> jim, we know that isis was part of the discussion of world leaders at the g-20 summit. what did

citizen peter kassig by isil. the intelligence community is working as quickly as possible to determine its authenticity. if confirmed, we are appalled by the brutal murder of an innocent american aide worker. we express our deepest condolences to family and friends. >>> more breaking news on this tragic beheading coming up on "new day." thank you so much for joining me, i'm zain asher. >>> so glad to have you with us. i'm christi paul. >> and i'm joe johns. it is 6:00. we begin with breaking news. isis claims to have beheaded peter casic. we see the aftermath of the beheading and the victim is clearly, not recognizable. 26-year-old kasic was once a u.s. army ranger and an iraq war veter veteran. in civilian life, he was an aid worker in syria. that's where he was

ed kassig asking for privacy and their son peter kassig to be remembered for his important work and the love he shared with friends and family. last month the parents publicly pleaded for mercy from kassig's cap tors. >> most of all know that we love you and our hearts ache for you to be granted your freedom. >> their 26-year-old son telling them in a letter i'm obviously pretty scared to die, but the hardest part is not knowing, wondering, hoping and wondering if i should even hope at all. >> i think he wanted to return back to the middle east and contribute in a very different way, in a more constructive way helping people directly. he didn't want to be another guy with a gun. >> the army ranger turned aid worker had reached far from syria and turkey's border. back home in indianapolis, he had graduated from north-central high school and later took classes at butler university. in a statement the school's president says if this morning's reports are confirmed, isis has accomplished nothing through this abhorrent act of violence. all it has done is taken away a good person who want

this is from ed and paula kassig. they say weigh are heartbroken to learn that our son, abdul-rahman, peter kassig, has lost his life for his desire to ease the suffering. our heart goes out to the families of the syrians who lost their lives along with our son. fed by a strong desire to use his life to save the lives of others, abdul-rahman was drawn to the camps filled with displaced families and to understaffed hospitals inside syria. we know he found his home amongst the syrian people and he hurt when they were hurting. as he wrote in march 2012 in a letter announcing he was taking a leave of absence to serve the syrian people, quote, near this land i have found my calling. i do not know much. every day that i am here, i have more questions and less answers. but what i do know is i have a chance to do something here, to take a stand, to make a difference. the statement goes on to say, we are incredibly proud of our son for living his life according to his humanitarian calling. we will work every day to keep his le

beheaded peter kassig. >>> isis had warned, several weeks ago, that peter kassig, would be executed for american military action. >>> since his capture, last october, he had converted to islam, and changed his name. and, the parents pleaded not to harm their son. >>> we implor those who are holding you to show mers six as and let you go. >>> the 26 -year-old had served as a army age jerry, and founded a medical aid organizations. in a letter, peat e peter kassig wrote, if i do go down, i won't go thinking anything, that you and mom love me, more than the moon, and the stars. >>> peter kassig loved here, in beirut, very well like he, and so clearly dedicated to helping others and, they are believing to hold a female worker and so far no threats have been made. >>> a former navy seal who says he killed, bin laden made an appearance for the redskins game. >>> he took part in a pregame ceremony, which saluted the military. and he made headlines, when he said he delivered the fatal shot, to bin laden, and, the former navy seal spoke to them, at a team meeting. >>> as for the game, it was

rahman kassig. many believe these are propaganda efforts on behalf of i.s.i.l, and negotiations to free these hostages, mission ultimately unsuccessful. this is unlikely to change u.s. strategy in the war against i.s.i.l. by any means, the united states seize this as a propaganda tool and a recruitment tool really on the part of i.s.i.l. which after all is in competition with other radical groups in the region to gain recruits from the west and elsewhere. thomas. >> mike viqueria in washington. those who knew peter kassig saiy he often surprised people with his generosity. zeina khodr with more. >> before he decided those living inside syria. he left in october 2013, only to be captured by the islamic state of iraq and the levant. a week ago his friends in the northern city of tripoli added their voice to an international campaign to persuade i.s.i.l. to release limb. they were hoping that the fact that peter who became known as abdul rahman who converted to islam in captivity, would help. now he is

friends and family of peter kassig, known as abdul rahman kassig. they want him to be remembered as the aid worker. take a listen to what his friends and family had to say. >> he risked his life every day to save the lives of people. he didn't have any relation to those people and we will forever be grateful for that. >> he could have stayed here. he chose to go back to help with all of the suffering in syria caused by the civil war. >> reporter: unfortunately, we know what happened sadly and investigators are looking at the video analyzing it for clues as to who jihadi john is and where the killing may have taken place. >> thanks, atika shubert, for us this morning. shocked and sadness. >>> aid agencies say isis has been stealing food and other foreign aid to redistribute it. aid groups saying isis distributed the aid to their fighters and families. a top officer says the momentum in the war against isis is starting to turn. chief dempsey making a move to baghdad over the weekend. and victory over the islamic terror group might take several years.

kassig, who served in the u.s. army in iraq, went to syria as an aid worker profiled in this medical clinic by cnn. >> we each get one life and that's it. you get one shot at this. >> reporter: during captivity kassig converted to islam and changed his name from peter to abdul-rahman. from their indiana home his parent, paula and ed kassig, launched a campaign lead pleading for the son to be set free. >> we implore those who are holding you to show mercy and use their power to let you go. >> reporter: islamic groups around the world joined in, and even al qaeda called for the release of kassig but there was no mercy and this morning's video posted on a known isis site featured the purported executioner claiming to be in the syrian city of dabiq with what appears to be kassig's several severed head at his feet he says "we are burying the first american crusader in dabiq, eagering awaiting for the remainder of your armies to arrive." if confirmed, kassig would be the third american to be murdered by isis since august

abdul rahman kassig. >> peter's life is evidence that he has been right all along. one person makes a difference. our hearts are battered, but they will mend. the world is broken, but it will be healed in the end. >>> protesters in ferguson, missouri are angry at governor jay nixon for declaring a state of emergency before the grand jury has announced if it will indict officer wilson for shooting the unarmed teenager. the governor is doing this as a precaution. cnn's sara sidner is in ferguson. >> reporter: a lot of folks talking about what has happened over the past 24 hours. governor nixon declaring a state of emergency and then saying he has activated the national guard in preparation for the grand jury deciding whether or not to indict officer wilson. propere protesters are upset with governor nixon because they say it is painting them and violent. many show up and are not violent, but very, very loud. they do a lot of chants and they come at police with very strong words. for the most part, they have

kassig, who changed his name to abdul-rahman kassig after converting to islam in capitivity, has been held since october, 20-13. kassig is the fifth westerner that isis claims to have executed. but the latest video is different from previous ones: it doesn't contain a statement from the victim. it's longer than the previous clips. and it shows the beheadings of other men, whom isis claims are syrian pilots. place of the execution: dabiq, syria. isis's latest claims brought swift condemnation from the west. senator dick durbin told c-n-n: : "this video that we have seen here, if verified, is a tragic reminder of the savagery, and of isis, and the complexity of our challenge." durbin doesn't think the u-s should go as far as sending ground troops to fight the terrorists in iraq and syria. : "there are many who are anxious to send troops forward. i am not one of them." on cbs's face the nation, former massachusetts governor mitt romney criticized president barack obama's handling of the fight. : "what we should have done by now is have american troops standing by in iraq. that was someth

some of these people knew kassig well. those who didn't know of what he did for their revolution they believe it makes no difference to isil if a person is a charity worker or not. >> translator: they are doing this no muslims. they kill anyone they feel is against them. not just americans. most likely they would kill me as well. they are giving a bad image of islam. >> reporter: kassig was a former soldier, but that is not how he will be remembered by his family and friends. >> at an early age our son was inspired by his grandfather to do humanitarian work. when he saw the suffering of the syrian people we want to turkey and founded an organization to provide aid and assistance. >> reporter: kassig was not the first western captive to be murdered. there were four others before him. but unlike in their videos, kassig didn't speak. and isil showed what appeared to be a mass bedding of at least a dozen syrian soldiers as well. this is a group the united nations has a wusses of committing war crimes in areas under its control

kassig was an army ranger in iraq and then turned to humanitarian work. he was abducted delivering aid to syrian brutalized by the civil war. he converted to islam while in captivity and changed his name abdul rachman. his parents spent the last several weeks pleading for his release. in an interview from margaret t senan, they shared a letter from their son given to them by a released hostage. >> he said if i go down for this, i want everyone to know i went down for a good cause. what more can you ask? >> reporter: the video was released the day after the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, general martin dempsey, made a surprise visit to iraq. he thanked troops and told them the battle against isis was starting to turn but it would be a drawn out campaign lasting several years. >> glor: julianna, thank you. we are joined now by our national security correspondent juan zarate. jaun as julainna noted, this video is different than the ones we've seen before why is that? >> isis is trying to add to the number of beheadings that are portrayed. it may also

it features a militant announcing the death of peter kassig, a humanitarian aid worker. he was kidnapped just over a year ago in syria. nbc's chief foreign correspondent richard engel has the latest. >> reporter: unfortunately this graphic 16-minute video put out by isis has been authenticated, making peter kassig the fifth western hostage murdered by isis since august and the third american. president obama called his murder an act of pure evil by a terrorist group that the world rightly associates with inhumanity. the 26-year-old former army ranger from indiana who served in iraq traveled to syria last year to volunteer as a medic. while delivering supplies, isis militants stopped him at a checkpoint and kidnapped him. kassig, who converted to islam, and changed his name to abdul rahman endured torture and the mental trauma as other western hostages at times his cell mates were taken, one by one, to be murdered. he knew his time would come. last month kassig's father, ed, read a letter written to the family by their son. >> don't worry, dad. if i go down, i won't go do

. >> it's peter edward kassig, a u.s. citizen of your country. >> reporter: the 26-year-old indiana native, a former army ranger-turned aide worker, was captured last year while delivering supplies in eastern syria. unlike previous isis execution videos, kassig did not address the camera and his captor is not in the same desolate desert location. this time he says he's in dabiq, northern syria. the british-act sengtded executioner appears to be the same one who held american journalists james foley and steven sotloff. he again issued a threat to president obama. >> and tomorrow we will slaughter more soldiers. >> reporter: the 15-minute-long video also includes a gruesome mass beheading of 18 syrian soldiers. in a show of defiance, one of their executioners were masked. in a letter to his parents earlier this year, peter kassig wrote that if he did die, it was for a good cause. ed kassig said a new phase of their ordeal is now beginning. >> please allow our small family the time and privacy to mourn, cry and, yes, forgive

kassig. what it does not show is a next victim. it is not clear why because as you say we do know they have two remaining western hostages. one, an american woman and aid worker that was kidnapped in august of 2013. her family has asked that cnn not reveal her identity. the other hostage, a british journalist by the name of john cantlie. he appeared in several videos under duress as a propaganda tool. as for the identities of the isis fighters that were featured in the video, french authorities saying there could be two french citizens featured in the video. one a 21-year-old by the name of maxime hauchard. it is probably he is in the video. it is still subject to investigation. the french public prosecutor gave a press conference yesterday and talked about how he had been self radicalized. take a listen. >> translator: in july of 2014, he gave the skype interview by raqqah on a channel where he explained he had been self radicalized on the web and talked about his army training and his life

showing 13 beheadings, 12 soldiers and peter kassig. i.s.i.l. say he was beheaded because he was an iraqi war veteran who came to iraq during the war to kill muslims. he, himself, converted to islam during his captivity. this is again, as i say, a brutal video, but the type of propaganda that i.s.i.l. want out there. they want people to see the video, and what they are capable to do, a message sent to the americans, is one that you can't bomb us without impunity, you'll be affected. there are other western hostages, but it's not just westerners, it's not just about western hostages. i.s.i.l. killed at least 17 iraqis and 20 journalists, sl have been kidnapped. journalists in iraq and syria, whose whereabouts we don't know. i.s.i.l. say they are holding a number of iraqi journalists and aid workers as well as beheading soldiers from iraq and from syria. this is a tactic that they use. the west concentrates on the names that they understand, on the westerners, but it cuts across iraq and syria. >> imran khan reporting there. we turn to ou

he was known as abdul rahman kassig. the fact he may not have been saying the words they wanted him to say. there is speculation online as to whether or not he would recite the muslim prayer. to show that at the time of killing would have been offensive for isis to put out. that may be one reason. they simply do not knowledge that he was muslim and he did convert in part because it would devalue the public relations aspect and propaganda. >> his family is heartbroken. they will speak with reporters later today. our thoughts and hearts go out to them. atika, thank you. >>> aid agencies say isis has been stealing food and other foreign aid to redistribute it to the hungry syrian families and take credit for it. isis has diverted aid to their fighters and families. america's top unformed officer says momentum in the war against isis is starting to turn. chairman martin dempsey making a trip to baghdad over the weekend. victory over the terror group may take years. president obama talking about the earlier suggestion that de

." >> if it is true, kassig would become the fifth western hostage beheaded by isis. this coming just one day after martin dempsey visited iraq where he told american troops that the fight against isis was starting to turn. live now from washington with the latest. >> the national security advisor briefed president obama a short time ago. while the u.s. intelligence community is reviewing the tape, isis does not have a track record of making false claims about the execution of hostages. after a video last month appeared to show peter kassig, his family made public pleas for his release. in a brief statement today, kass kassig's family asked the media not to further the isis agenda. having watched the full video is a dramatic departure from previous propaganda tapes and appears to be a mass beheading. there are at least two sections that include what purports to be the british executioner clad in black. on the president's strategy in iraq and syria, last night, his former defense secretary accused the administration of meddling in a way that has not been seen since vie

kassig converted to islam and changed his name to abdul ramen. his family hoped that would spare his life, but today isis released a video taking responsibility for kassig's death. family and friends felt that he was called there to help. >> when he did speak about his time over there, he always spoke about what he wanted to do to help people who were suffering. >> kassig's parents released a statement saying they're heartbroken, but incredibly proud of their son's work. and president obama also released a statement on kassig's death. he said in part, today we offer our prayers and condolences to the parents and family of abdul rahman kassig. he was taken from us in an act of pure evil by a terrorist group that the world rightly associates with inhumanity. >>> new information today about the allegations of sexual assault surrounding comedian bill cosby. his lawyer says cosby will not discuss them. john schmidt issued this statement saying over the last several weeks, decade-old discredited allegations against mr. cosby have resurfaced. the fact t

at the end a masked man with a britih accent stands over peter kassig. he is the third american and fifth hostage killed by isis. unlike previous isis videos it doesn't show kassig alive before the beheading. the group does identify the location in northern syria and threatens military personnel. residents of kassig's home state of indiana remember the sacrifices he made to help syrians in need. >> he chose to go back to help with all the suffering in syria caused by the civil war. >> reporter: on sunday the white house confirmed the video is authentic, and president obama called the murder an act of pure evil. the u.s. is pressing forward with its effort to ultimately destroy the terror group. defense secretary chuck hagel said sunday the u.s. military is speeding up its training and is advising iraqi force who are fighting isis. >> we're in the process now of opening four training centers in iraq. >> reporter: hagel said americans should prepare for a long and difficult struggle. now, there is still another american, a female aid worker believed to be

let's talk about kassig's family. what are we hearing from them? >> for most of the captivity of peter kassig, his mother, father and family tried to keep quiet in an effort to increase the odds that he would ultimately be released. they were home in indiana, and had a year, 13.5 months of agony, today they learnt the worst. they released a statement when it became apparent that their son was murdered. the statement reads in part: you recall a few months ago one of the captives held by i.s.i.l. within syria escaped and committed to memory a letter that was dictated to him by peter kassig. he talked about his love of his family, reminiscing about his childhood, but he said in anticipating his ultimate demise, i went out as a result of trying to alleviate suffering. >> that he did for sure. what is the white house saying? >> well, president obama is on his way back. of course, he's been in asia and australia on economic summits over the course of the last several days, they have released a statement to the white house under the president's name a few

unlike in their videos, peter kassig didn't speak. i.s.i.l. showed what appeared to be a mass beheading of a dozen syrian soldiers. this is a group the united nations accused of committing war crimes in areas under their control. peter kassig and the soldiers are unlikely to be the last victims. >>> still to come on al jazeera. we'll tell you all about kangaroo care. how it can increase the chaps of survival for premature babies. plus, french history sold at auction. napoleon's trademark hat has been bought by a south korean. real reporting that brings you the world. giving you a real global perspective like no other can. real reporting from around the world. this is what we do. al jazeera america. you >>> hello, welcome bark. i'm shoouly goesh. the headlines - columbian government has put talks with rebels after the kidnapping of a general. a massive search and rescue mission has been launched >>> the third-larged economy, japan, is back in recession for the first time in four years, putting pressure on shinzo abe who staked his reputation on

. >> this is peter edward kassig a u.s. citizen of your country. >> reporter: unlike previous isis videos this one did not show kassig alive before the beheading only the aftermath but there are similarities to the execution videos of four other westerners. >> does seem to be the same person and obviously inside the government working very hard to exactly identify him, anything we can learn about him. >> reporter: the masked man who speaks in a british accent also warns isis will attack americans on u.s. streets. kassig was captured in syria a little more than a year ago. the 26-year-old former army ranger turned aide worker converted to islam and changed his name to abdul rahman while in captivity n a statement his parents said 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: they also released an audio recording of their son talking about his work. >> i was able to share a little bit of hope and comfor

revealed they kassig in october following the beheading of allen henning. kassig was abducted delivering aid to syrian brutalized by the civil war. he converted to islam while in captivity. he spent the last seven months pleading for his release. in an interview from margaret brennan they shared a letter from their son. >> he said if i go down for this, i want everyone to know i went down for a good cause. what more can you ask? >> the video was released the day after the chairman joint chiefs of staff martin dempsey made a secret knowledge visit to iran. y jeff. >> julianna, thank you. we turn to juan zarate. this video is different than the ones we've seen before why is that? >> adding to the number of beheadings that are portrayed. it may also be that mr. kassig refused to go on camera and propound the propaganda that others had before their execution. they are more open who's doing the beheadings. that may be a reaction to the crit sivment of the group by not who is doing them and why. the under degree of stress that doesn't allow them the production va

soldier peter kassig served in iraq in 2007. he returned to the middle east as an aid worker in syria where isis captured him. >> there's this impression, this belief that there is no hope. that's when it's more important than ever that we come in against all odds and try to do something. >> reporter: kassig is the fifth western hostage to be killed by isis but after four very similar videos, the latest is noticeably different. the speaker gives away his location, in dabiq. his last moments before the execution are not shown. still in this 16-minute video, the slaughter of a dozen men described as syrian military pilots is gruesome and dramatized. unmasked isis fighters grab for their knives as they lead the soldiers to their deaths. >> what we say to you, obama -- >> reporter: speaking in english and cloaked in black, the man who seems to be the same killer as in the previous videos has a message for president obama, taunting him to send u.s. ground troops. >> your forces will return greater in number than they were before. you

kassig went to the middle east as a u.s. soldier and later returned as a medical worker, helping syrian refugees. >>> demonstrators in the u.s. state of missouri staged what they call a die-in to mark 100 days since a white policeman shot and killed 18-year-old michael brown. the african-american teen was unarmed when he was shot. the protest comes as a grand jury is deciding whether to indict officer darren wilson for the shooting. >>> japan slipped into a surprise recession after a dismal third quarter. the country was expecting its economy to grow more than 2%. instead it contracted. this could mean the prime minister might delay an unpopular sales tax hike, which is meant to ease japan's huge public debt problem. >>> now, the latest isis hostage video is different in a number of ways from the others which we've seen in recent months. the production standards are not as high. there was no threat at the end of the tape to execute another hostage. but it's believed the terror group still holds an unconfirmed number of weste

. >>> another -- aid worker peter kassig's death took place just a year after he was taken prisoner. there were expressionings of con dpem nation from his family, there is hope that their 26-year-old son will be remembered for the good he was trying to do. richard engel has more. >> reporter: peter kassig made it his life's work to help others but paid for that selflessness with his own life. today president obama called his murder an act of pure evil by a terrorist group that the world rightly associates with inhumanity. the 26-year-old former army ranger from indiana who served in iraq travelled to syria last year to volunteer as a medic. while delivering supplies, isis militants stopped him at a checkpoint and kidnapped him. he converted to islam reportedly endured torture. he knew hiss time would come. last month, kassig's father ed read a letter written to the family by their son. >> don't worry dad, if i go down, i won't go down thinking anything but what i know to be true, that you and mom loved me more than the moon and the stars. >> reporter: the kassig family remembered his

in captivity, kassig converted to islam and changed his name to abdul rahman. but none of that made any difference to isis. >> this is peter edward kassig, >> reporter: the masked man with a british accent, dubbed by some jihad john announced kassig's beheading just as he had done with american journalists james foley and steven sotloff. but in this isis video there was no effort to hide the location with obvious landmarks of buildings, roads, farmland. >> it's absolutely essential to bring this individual to justice. >> reporter: on the same isis video jihad john leading 16 isis fighters in a chilling mass beheading. one of them already identified as a 22-year-old citizen of france. and now, one woman is believed to be the last american hostage held by isis. >>> and the last american patient has died from ebola. over the weekend, he arrived to a hospital, too weak to walk. >>> and we're learning about the surprise searches for at least five teens by the nfl, looking for pain medication used to keep players on the field. >> reporter: game night, the 49ers celeb

peter kassig. the video yet to be verified does not show the murder but the aftermath. a mass militant claiming to have killed kassig. the 16-minute long video also shows what appears to be the mass killing of captured syrian soldiers. former army ranger turned caseworker kassig had been held in captivity since last year. the newly-released video issues a threat directly to president obama saying they will take the fight to american streets. the timing of the video's release coincides with new reports that jihadi john, the ii isis militant, was recently hurt in air strikes but his condition is unknown. >>> and 75 kids are now sick with a polio-like disease. the children are suffering from severe muscle weakness. patients have also developed fever and respiratory problems similar to the enterovirus which killed at least 12 people. but officials will not confirm if this virus is causing the paralysis seen here. >>> more and more feds are going undercover to bring criminals to justice. from i.r.s. age

you knew peter kassig personally. talk about the last time you saw peter and why he was in the region. >> it was september of last year around the same time that the chemical weapons attacks happened when the u.s. was preparing for possible strikes along with several other journalists who knew peter much more so than i did. we all hung out in beirut killing time and lounging around in between work. peter was preparing to go into syria and that's when we found out that he had been kidnapped. it was at that time that i had a chance to get to know him and spend time with him that afternoon. he was a very nice man with siancy of purpose and committed to what he was doing. you got the sense to how close he was to everyone else and how well respected he was by the other journalists for the work. he had come to beirut many times before. and getting the people who were suffering. >> motivated by the best instincts and putting everything on the line in the end. so many have come with the best of intentions met the worst fate.

hostage peter kassig. >>> peter kassig was an aid worker in syria when he was kidnapped by isil last year. he also helped syrian refugees in lebanon. his former colleagues have tried and failed to convince isil to spare his life. zeina reports they are not shocked by isil's latest murder. >> reporter: he helped save the lives of syrians wounded in the war. that is what peter kassig was doing in lebanon for about a year before he decided to help those living inside syria. he left in october 2013, only to be captured by the islamic state of iraq and the los angeles srafpblts a week ago his friends in the northern city of tripoli added their voice to an international campylobacters to persuade isil to release him. they were hoping that party who convert today islam in captivity would have helped spare his life. even his close friend who was a syrian from homs had hope. but now he is lost for words. >> what i should say to his family, that we are sorry, for your son dieing in my country. and once he came to my country to help my people and to kill him people say that we -- who kill them,

peter kassig was deployed in iraq in 2007 as a u.s. army ranger. he went back to iraq and syria to help war-torn victims. joining me on the line now -- i'm being told we don't have one of our experts just yet. if you're just joining us, we are getting this breaking news that peter kassig, also known as abdul rahman who had been to syria to volunteer has now been beheaded by isis. isis had been threatening to behead him since last month. he was taken captive in october 2013. this beheading also coming days just after general martin dempsey saying that progress is being made against isis in iraq. in fact, peter kassig had been interviewed by arwa damon in syria as well. he talked about how passionate he was about helping war-torn victims in syria. this is the fifth western hostage that has been beheaded by isis in syria and iraq so far this year. once again, those victims so far being james foley, u.s. journalist james foley, steven sotloff, british aide worker david haines and allen henning as well. this is someone who a lot of people had described

. >> this is peter edward kassig, a u.s. citizen of your country u. >> reporter: unlike previous isis videos this one did not show kassig alive before the beheading only the aftermath. there are similar thes are to the execution murder of four other westerners. >> appears to be the same person inside the government working very hard to exactly identify him and anything we can learn about him. the masked man who speaks in a bright tissue accent also warns isis will attack americans on u.s. streets. kassig was captured in syria a little more than a year ago. he converted to islam changed his name to abdul rack man while in captivity. his web site showed him helping wounded citizens. his mother said her son found his calling in syria. >> he has love for all who need help. >> reporter: president obama said in a statement today we grieve together and we also recall that the indomitable spirit of goodness and perseverance that burns so brightly in abdul rahman kassig and which binds humanity together ultimately is the light that w

citizen peter kassig by isil. the intelligence community is working as quickly as possible to determine its authenticity. if confirmed we are appalled of the brutal murder of an innocent american aide worker and express our deepest condolences to his family and friends. we will provide more information when it is available." now of course, president obama and many of his aides are now returning from australia, will be back later hours of today and tonight, but again, they're working quickly but have to still confirm that. >> erin, president obama insisted there aren't going to be u.s. combat troops on the ground in iraq and syria. when we see something as brutal as this happening, is there any indication that this would spark a change or a modification in strategy? >> well, christi, martin dempsey testified on capitol hill thursday saying he is still considering that and recommending that to the president. he is in iraq now. president obama himself opened a little bit of ground to this idea in australia. here, lis

. >> this is peter edward kassig, a u.s. citizen of your country. >> reporter: unlike previous isis videos this one did not show kassig alive before the beheading, only the aftermath. but there are similarities to the execution videos. >> that seemed to be the same person, and obviously inside the government working very hard to exactly identify him and anything we can learn about him. >> reporter: the masked man also warns isis will attack americans on u.s. streets. kassig was captured in syria a little more than a year ago. the 26-year-old former army ranger turned aid worker converted to islam and changed his name while in captivity. in a statement, kassig's parents said, we are heart broken to learn that our son has lost his life as a result of his love for the sear i don't know people and his desire to ease their suffering. they also released an audio recording of their son talking about his work. >> i was able to share a little bit of hope and comfort with the people. >> reporter: the kassigs planned to speak at a chur

aid worker peter kassig has been murdered. kassig has been held in syria for more than a year. and if verified, he is the fifth westerner to be executed by isis in less than three months. the video also shows a mass execution of syrian soldiers and threatens to bring the terror you see on that video to the shores of the united states. conor powell is live in our middle east bureau. >> reporter: this new isis execution video is different from the previous ones because it doesn't capture kassig's actual death. instead an executioner is seen holding a severed and bloody head by isis says is the aid worker. it is nonetheless as disturbing as the other videos we've seen out of isis. peter kassig served in iraq in 2007. he returned to the middle east has an aid worker to help return and provide medical supplies to syrian refugees. he was then taken about a year ago. kassig is known as a driven humanitarian with a genuine desire to help the war torn region and victims of syria. his parents, ed and paula, say they have seen the reports about his death but are still waiting for official

citizen peter kassig by isil. the intelligence community is working as quickly as possible to determine its authenticity. if confirmed, we are appalled by the brutal murder of an innocent american aid worker and we express our deepest condolences to his family and friends. we will provide more information when it is available." and we, of course, will bring you that information as soon as we get it. >>> new from overnight, in our area, two men were killed when their car rammed into a light pole in south philadelphia. nbc 10 was on the scene at columbus boulevard and oregon avenue. both victims died at the scene. police are now looking into what may have caused the accident. >>> also new from overnight, crews had to pull a driver out of his car after he crashed into a tree in montgomery county. this is at ridge pike and church road in eagleville. the man was flown by helicopter to the hospital and he's in serious condition right now. a quick traffic note, ridge pike is closed between church road and mount cook aven

we get one shot at this. >> peter kassig had been held a hostage for over a year. an american aid worker and former u.s. soldier he was clearly in huge danger in the hands of the islamic state. >> the way i thought i didn't have a choice. this is what i was put here to do. ♪ ♪ >> in a video today far too graphic to show beyond a few images, it is clear that kassig, along with a number captured syrian soldiers, has been murdered. the same british accented man known as jihadi john, is again prominent. he is seen not against empty desert but fields. cameras behind him. britain believed to be responsible. >> we should be no doubt that i want jihadi john to face justice for the appalling things, the appalling acts createin syria. >> changing his name from peter to abdul rahman. in vein, t his parents pleaded with the militants to release him. >> we implore his can a captors to show mercy and let our son go. >> before his murder kassig had written a letter to his parents. his father recently read a short extract. >> if i go down i won't go down thinking anything but

the man refers to kassig as a former u.s. army soldier, seemingly taunting president obama, the killer says -- >> and here we are, burying the first american soldier. >> reporter: kassig's parents had pleaded with his captaors t spare their son. >> we implore those who are holding you to show mercy. >> reporter: the executioner appears to be the same man in previous isis videos, called jihad john. >> inside the government, working very hard to exactly identify him. >> reporter: jihad john appears elsewhere in the video giving the order to behead 16 men described as syrian soldiers. he makes no effort to hide his location with obvious landmarks in the background. kass kassig's parents said in a statement they want their son to be remembered for the love he shared with friends and family. isis still holds another american hostage, a young female aid worker that they're also threatening to excuse. tai and t.j.? >> tahman bradley, live in washington, thank you so much. >>> the state department has shut down its entire unclassifie

. >> it's a sign of mourning in indiana, the home state of murdered hostage peter kassig. a vigil was held to remember the 26-year-old former army ranger. >> his heartbroken parents have issued a statement and are expected to speak with reporters later today. the latest now from abc's gloria riviera. >> reporter: the latest american victim is peter kassig, a 26-year-old aide worker from indiana. a former army ranger lived in the middle east where he founded a medical aid organization serving victims of syria's civil war. >> in the hospital, i was able to share a little bit of hope and comfort with some people. >> reporter: sentence his capture a year ago, he converted to islam and changed his name to abdul raman. isis had shown their captive in a previous video threatening to kill him in retaliation for u.s. military action in iraq and syria. kassig's parents publicly pleaded with his captives to spare their son. >> we implore those who are holding you to show mercy and use their power to let you go. >> reporter: in their new video, isis shows kassig's purported executione

. >> the latest american victim of isis approve dality is peter kassig, 26-year-old aide worker from indiana. a former army ranger who served in iraq lived in the middle east where he founded a medical aid organization serving victims of the syrian civil war. >> are able to share a little bit of hope and comfort with some people. >> since his capture a year ago, kassig converted to islam and changed his name to abdul-rahman. isis showed their captive in a previous video, threatening to kill him in retaliation for u.s. military action in iraq and syria: kassig's parents publicly pleaded with his cappers to spare their son, fellow muslim. >> we imblow those holding you to show mercy and use their power to let you go. >> yet in their new video isis shows kassig's purported execution 'er claiming to be in a syrian city with what appears to be kassig's severed head at his feet. he taunts president obama saying we are burying the first american crusader, eagerly waiting for the remainder of your armies to arrive. his parents say they want their son to be remembered for the love he shared w

unlike past videos, this one did not show kassig's actual killing. but it did show more than a dozen captured syrian soldiers being beheaded by militants, possibly including this man, from an earlier video. >> all you who believe, answer the call of allah and his messenger, when he calls you to what gives you life. what gives you life is jihad. >> ifill: the father of nasser muthana, a british medical student, said his son resembles one of the militants in the latest video. and in paris, officials said a 22-year-old frenchman was likely among the executioners as well. all told, islamic state forces have killed five westerners since august. syrian civilians have paid a far more fearsome toll. the syrian observatory for human rights reported today more than 1,400 have been beheaded, stoned to death or had their throats cut since june. islamic state militants still hold a british photojournalist, john cantlie, and an american woman. u.s. officials have asked that she not be publicly identified. >> woodruff: missouri governor jay nixon declared an emerge

kassig is the fifth that isis has killed. susan mcginnis is in washington. good morning. >> good morning, anne-marie. peter kassig is being remembered as a humanitarian who helped save the lives of those caught in civilian war. now washington is accelerating its efforts to destroy the group. the 15-minute video purportedly