James Foley: American Journalist Beheaded By Savage ISIS Executioner

James Foley, an American journalist, has been beheaded in a savage execution by militant group Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), judging by a terrifying video which was uploaded to YouTube and titled 'A Message To America.' James Foley, 40, an American journalist, died following a brutal execution by beheading in Syria by militant group Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). The group posted the video, titled "A Message To America," on YouTube on August 19.

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August 20, 2014 8:19AM EDT
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James Foley Foley was kidnapped in northwest Syria by unknown gunmen on Nov. 22, 2012, his parents said Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013. He was in the country contributing videos to Agence France-Press, which has vowed to help secure his release. Foley's parents, John and Diane Foley, made a public plea Thursday to his captors because the Foleys haven't received any information about their son in six weeks. (AP Photo/Sreven Senne, File Syria Journalist, Boston, USA
Diane and John Foley talk to reporters after speaking with U.S. President Barack Obama outside their home in Rochester, N.H. Their son, James Foley was abducted in November 2012 while covering the Syrian conflict. Islamic militants posted a video showing his murder on Tuesday and said they killed him because the U.S. had launched airstrikes in northern Iraq Journalist Slain, Rochester, USA
Family friends listen as Diane and John Foley talk to reporters, outside their home in Rochester, N.H., after speaking with President Obama. There son, James Foley was abducted in November 2012 while covering the Syrian conflict. Islamic militants posted a video showing his murder on Tuesday and said they killed him because the U.S. had launched airstrikes in northern Iraq Journalist Slain, Rochester, USA
Image Credit: Courtesy of YouTube

James Foley Beheaded By ISIS In Terrifying Video: American Journalist Executed

Clearly under duress, James — who has been a prisoner in Syria for nearly two years — blamed America for “signing [his] death certificate” after dropping bombs on Iraq. “I call on my friends, family and loved ones to rise up against my real killers — the U.S. government — for what will happen to me is only a result of their complacent criminality,” he said in the video.

James Foley: ISIS Threatened To Slaughter Him In Cruel Email To Parents

The horrifying video has yet to be officially verified, but many outlets — including James’ own GlobalPost — are operating under the assumption that the video is real.

James Foley: Fury As President Obama Golfs After ISIS Speech

The original, four-minute video was removed from YouTube, but shorter, edited iterations exist online. While it’s difficult to confirm James’ identity — and his execution — with certainty, the terrifying event more than likely occurred.

Diane Foley: James ‘Gave His Life Trying To Expose The World To The Suffering Of The Syrian People’

On the night that the video was released, James’ mother, Diane Foley, posted the following to the Facebook page which was set up following her son’s disappearance in 2012:

“We have never been prouder of our son Jim. He gave his life trying to expose the world to the suffering of the Syrian people. We implore the kidnappers to spare the lives of the remaining hostages. Like Jim, they are innocents. They have no control over American government policy in Iraq, Syria or anywhere in the world.”

Indeed, hostages remain — at the end of the video, ISIS threatens to do to Time contributor Steven Sotloff what they did to James. “The life of this American citizen, Obama, depends on your next decision,” said the ISIS executioner.

James Foley: The Hunt For ISIS Militant Who Beheaded Him

This was not the first time that James was taken hostage; in 2011, he spent 44 days in a Libyan prison along with two other journalists. His parents, who are completely devastated, spoke about their son during a press conference on Aug. 20. (Watch it here.)

Our thoughts go out to James’ friends and family during this difficult time and we hope to see the safe return of Steven Sotloff and other kidnapped Americans on Syrian soil.

— Amanda Mitchell

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