Tri-Service

Obama: US Aid Worker Killed by IS

US president Barack Obama has confirmed that US aid worker Kayla Mueller, 26, who had been held hostage by Islamic State, has been killed.

Prime Minister David Cameron says he is "deeply saddened" by the news, and insisted her "brutal" captors are solely responsible for her demise.

IS, meanwhile, has claimed she died in a Jordanian air strike, but the authorities in Amman have dismissed this as propaganda.

Mr Cameron said: "I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of US aid worker Kayla Mueller and my thoughts are with her friends and family as they deal with this awful news.

"Let me be clear - those responsible for her death are the terrorists that kidnapped Ms Mueller and who held her against her will ever since.

"Kayla travelled to the region to help men, women and children forced to flee their homes and her death demonstrates yet again the indiscriminate brutality of Isil.

"We will work with coalition partners to ensure her murderers face justice, however long it takes."

Ms Mueller is believed to be the fourth American to die while being held by Islamic State, and was the only known remaining US hostage known to be in the hands of the group. She was taken in August 2013 while leaving a hospital in Syria.

Parents Carl and Marsha Mueller said in a statement: "We are heartbroken to share that we've received confirmation that Kayla Jean Mueller has lost her life.

"Kayla was a compassionate and devoted humanitarian. She dedicated the whole of her young life to helping those in need of freedom, justice and peace."