LONDON — The third gruesome murder of an unarmed hostage was uploaded to the Internet on Saturday night by a group of ISIS terrorists apparently hell-bent on drawing another Western nation into armed battle in the Middle East.
The brutal execution-style killing of a British aid worker will accelerate London's push to join U. S. air strikes against Islamist militants who continue to seize Iraqi and Syrian land for their so-called caliphate.
The latest victim, David Cawthorne Haines, 44, has spent 15 years working in the region in the name of peace. The horrific video was published online just hours after his family released a statement begging for his safe return. His murder leaves a 4-year-old child without a father.
In a similar style to ISIS's two previous videos which showed the murder of American citizens, a man with a British accent carried out the killing. This time the captive was forced to make a speech blaming the British government for his death.
"I would like to declare that I hold you, David Cameron, entirely responsible for my execution," Haines is forced to say. "You entered voluntarily into a coalition with the United States against the Islamic State, just as you're predecessor, Tony Blair, did."
The video also included a clip of the British prime minister describing the U. S. as allies.
The provocation is likely to end any hesitation in Britain over launching strikes against ISIS in Iraq. Cameron has already begun securing support in Parliament for a vote that would sanction attacks in the coming days.
Writing on Twitter, Cameron underlined his determination to act decisively against the terror group.
"The murder of David Haines is an act of pure evil," he wrote. "We will do everything in out power to hunt down these murderers and ensure they face justice no matter how long it takes."
Last week Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond was publicly overruled by Downing Street when he said strikes in Syria were off the table. The British government insists that all options are available in the quest to destroy ISIS.
