How former U.S. Army Ranger threatened with beheading fought in Iraq and then converted to Islam and returned to Middle East to run Syrian aid group

• Peter Kassig appears in latest ISIS video showing British aid worker's death
• In footage, 26-year-old is shown on his knees as he is held by 'Jihadi John'
• Video released tonight claims to show beheading of hostage Alan Henning
• 'Jihadi John' tells camera that President Obama's aerial bombardment in Syria means that 'it is only right to continue to strike necks of your people'
• Mr Kassig enlisted in the Army in 2006 and served in the Iraq war in 2007
• He then went to provide aid to Syrian war refugees and his family said that while in captivity he converted to Islam and took the name Abdul Rahman

An Iraq war veteran who launched his own aid group to provide medical help for Syrian war refugees has been named as the next potential victim of ISIS.

Former U.S. Army Ranger Peter Kassig, 26, has been confirmed as the latest American hostage to be held by Islamic State militants after he featured at the end of a video showing the beheading of British aid worker Alan Henning.

In the footage, which emerged on the internet tonight, Mr Kassig, from Indianapolis, is shown on his knees next to 'Jihadi John'.

The young aid worker is being held by the Jihadi who tells the camera that President Obama's aerial bombardment in Syria means that 'it is only right to continue to strike the necks of your people.'

While Mr Kassig can be seen on his knees, a caption on the screen reads, 'Peter Edward Kassig (American).'

In a direct address to President Barack Obama, 'Jihadi John' then tells the camera: 'Obama you have started your aerial bombardment in Sham (Syria) which keeps on striking our people, so it's only right we continue to strike the necks of your people.'

U.S. officials confirmed this evening that Kassig was being held by Islamic State militants but declined to give any more details of his capture.

President Obama's counterterrorism adviser, Lisa Monaco, said the US had seen the video and was evaluating it.

'This is again yet another just very clear example of the brutality of this group, and why the president has articulated and is moving out in a comprehensive way to degrade and destroy ISIL,' she said, using an acronym for the group.

'Our hearts go out to the British aid worker who we believe is in that video, and to the remaining hostages and to their families.'

Tonight, Mr Kassig's parents Ed and Paula released a statement in the wake of the video asking people to pray for their son.

They confirmed he was captured on October 1 last year on his way to Deir Ezzour in eastern Syria but said the family had kept silent about his abduction 'at the wish of those who have held their son'.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2780102/The-former-U-S-Iraq-war-veteran-feared-ISIS-victim-Peter-Kassig-threatened-beheading-Alan-Henning-video-seized-running-Syria-aid-group.html