The parents of murdered journalist and New Hampshire native James Foley say news of a U.S. airstrike targeting the man suspected of killing their son gives them no solace.
NPR reports the Department of Defense says U.S. forces conducted an airstrike targeting an Islamic State leader known as "Jihadi John," who has appeared in videotaped murders of Americans and other hostages. Officials have not said whether the attack Thursday on a location in Raqqa, Syria, killed "John," whose real name is Mohammed Emwazi.
Emwazi is a British citizen who was born in Kuwait. He grew up in London, and reportedly earned a degree in computer programming. There are different explanations of how he came to be radicalized and travel to Kuwait in 2009 and then to Syria in 2012.
In a statement to ABC News, Foley's parents said:
"This huge effort to go after this deranged man filled with hate -- when they can't make half that effort to save the hostages while these young Americans were still alive. It's unfortunate that the government doesn't get it.
"They think it gives us solace, but it doesn't."
Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook announced the airstrike, saying U.S. officials "are assessing the results of tonight's operation and will provide additional information as, and where, appropriate."
The Associated Press reported, based on an anonymous source, that a drone had targeted a vehicle in which Emwazi was believed to be traveling.
"Jihadi John" featured in a series of gruesome videos, released online, in which ISIS announced and carried out the murders of hostages, as NPR reported earlier this year.