Following the murder of Abdul Rahman (Peter) Kassig, the third American hostage killed by militants of the Islamic State group, John Kerry, the U.S. Secretary of State, stated, "We will not be intimidated." According to the Associated Press, Kerry said in Washington at the annual meeting of the publisher of Foreign Policy magazine that the violence of the Islamic State and its expansion worldwide are among the key reasons that deeply compel the U.S. to intervene in the Middle East. Kerry explained, "Because this issue is directly related to our national security and our economy, as well as who we are." One day before Kerry's remarks, the U.S. government confirmed that the video released showing the beheading of Abdul Rahman (Peter) Kassig is considered evidence of his murder. President Barack Obama expressed condolences to Mr. Kassig's family in a statement. The U.S. Secretary of State also warned that the areas and territories occupied by Islamic State militants are "more than what Al-Qaeda controlled at its peak." Kerry stated that the leaders of the Islamic State group "believe that the world will be paralyzed by fear to respond to them." He added, "But let me be clear: we will not be intimidated." The video that is said to be evidence of Mr. Kassig's murder was released online along with images of the beheading of a group of individuals who are said to be soldiers of the Syrian government. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in London, reports that the Islamic State group (ISIS) has killed 1,432 Syrians since July 8 of this year, during the period in which it declared its self-proclaimed caliphate.
Kerry After the Murder of American Hostage by ISIS: We Will Not Be Intimidated
John Kerry condemned the murder of American hostage Abdul Rahman Kassig by ISIS, asserting that the U.S. will not be intimidated by such violence. This incident underscores the ongoing threat posed by ISIS and the U.S. commitment to intervene in the Middle East for national security reasons.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Abdul Rahman (Peter) Kassig, an American hostage, was murdered by ISIS, prompting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to declare that the U.S. will not be intimidated by such acts of violence. Kerry emphasized the need for U.S. intervention in the Middle East due to the growing threat posed by ISIS.
- Kassig is the third American hostage killed by ISIS.
- Kerry stated that ISIS controls more territory than Al-Qaeda did at its peak.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
ISIS emerged from the chaos of the Syrian Civil War and has been responsible for numerous atrocities, including the execution of hostages, which has drawn global condemnation and military responses.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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