WASHINGTON, August 21 (RIA Novosti) – The United States has made a futile attempt recently to rescue its citizens, taken captive by the Islamic State rebels in Syria, the Pentagon Press Secretary said Thursday.
“This operation involved air and ground components and was focused on a particular captor network within ISIL. Unfortunately, the mission was not successful, because the hostages were not present at the targeted location,” Rear Admiral John Kirby stressed.
“The United States will not tolerate the abduction of our people, and will work tirelessly to secure the safety of our citizens and to hold their captors accountable,” the Pentagon press secretary added.
The announcement comes just two days after the Islamic State militant group, formerly known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) released a video, showing the alleged execution of US journalist James Foley, taken prisoner by armed men in Syria in 2012.
According to the militant, featured in the video, the execution was made in retaliation for airstrikes against the IS rebels approved by US President Barack Obama earlier this month.
The FBI currently believes that a video showing the beheading of US journalist James Foley by Islamic State (IS) militants is authentic. Foley’s family confirmed his death.
President Obama stressed earlier on Wednesday that the United States would continue its campaign against the IS militants even despite their threats and the execution of the journalist.
