U.S.: Sotloff Beheading Video Authentic
WASHINGTON (CBSMiami) -- President Barack Obama called the murder of Miami journalist Steven Sotloff "a horrific act of violence" and said the nation grieves with his loved ones.
Wednesday morning, U.S. officials confirmed the latest video released by ISIS does in fact show Sotloff's brutal execution.
Click here to watch Eliott Rodriguez's report.
He's the second US journalist killed this month by the Islamic extremist group, which said it's another gruesome message to President Obama.
Web Extra: Sotloff Family Spokesman Makes Statement Outside Of Pinecrest Home
President Obama responded with a message of his own.
"Those who make the mistake of harming Americans will learn that we will not forget, that our reach is long and that justice will be served," said Mr. Obama who is in Europe where he is discussing with allies ways to defeat the Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria.
Click here for video: President Obama On Beheading of Miami Journalist
American journalist James Foley was killed by the same militant group two weeks ago.
In the Sotloff video, a masked militant warns President Obama that continuing airstrikes against the group in Iraq will be met with the killing of more Western captives.
"Americans are repulsed by their barbarism. We will not be intimidated. Their horrific acts only unite us as a country and stiffen our resolve to take the fight against these terrorists," said Mr. Obama.
Sotloff is a 31-year-old Miami-area native who freelanced for Time and Foreign Policy magazines. He vanished in Syria in August 2013.
In the video, ISIS also threatened to kill another hostage, a British citizen identified as David Cawthorne Haines.
At a NATO summit in Wales, President Obama will try to develop an international coalition to help defeat the terror group.
"Our objective is clear. It is to degrade and destroy ISIL so it's not a threat to the region or the United States," said President Obama.
Ahead of President Obama's trip to Europe, he signed off on a request to send 350 additional U.S. troops to Baghdad to secure U.S. personnel and facilities there as Iraqi forces wage their own war against ISIS.
RELATED CONTENT:
