The United States strongly condemns the brutal murder of Japanese citizen Haruna Yukawa by the terrorist group ISIL. Our condolences today are with the people of Japan for their terrible loss. We renew our call for the immediate release of Kenji Goto and all other remaining hostages. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our ally Japan and applaud its commitment to peace and development in a region far from its shores. We will work together to bring the perpetrators of these murders to justice and will continue to take decisive action to degrade and ultimately defeat ISIL.
NOTE: The statement referred to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terrorist organization; and freelance journalist Kenji Goto, who traveled to Raqqa, Syria, to plea for Mr. Yukawa's release.
Barack Obama, Statement on the Death of Haruna Yukawa Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/309154