The White House said it is trying to determine the authenticity of a video showing the beheading of an American journalist, U.S. media reported on Tuesday.
The video, posted by those claiming to be part of terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL), showed the beheading of a man resembling freelance photojournalist James Foley, who disappeared in northwest Syria on Nov. 22, 2012, the Politico reported.
National Security Council spokesperson Caitlin Hayden said, "We have seen a video that purports to be the murder of U.S. citizen James Foley by ISIL." "If genuine, we are appalled by the brutal murder of an innocent American journalist and we express our deepest condolences to his family and friends."
The intelligence community is working as quickly as possible to determine its authenticity, Hayden added.
In the video, the ISIL member identifies Foley and says his death is a direct result of American intervention in Iraq, according to the Politico.
A second captive, said to be U.S. freelance journalist Steven Sotloff,is then shown in an orange jumpsuit on his knees. The man in black says "The life of this American citizen Obama depends on your next decision."
Foley, 40, had been covering the Syrian civil war for GlobalPost and Agence France-Presse before he disappeared in 2012.