Obama confirms IS hostage’s death

US president Barack Obama has confirmed the death of Kayla Mueller, a US aid worker who had been held hostage by Islamic State militants, saying the United States would “find and bring to justice the terrorists who are responsible”.

Ms Mueller’s family said they were “heartbroken” at the news, and released a copy of a letter she had written in captivity.

Confirmation of Mueller’s death comes days after Islamic State claimed the 26-year-old had died in a Jordanian air strike.

US hostage Kayla Mueller was killed by Islamic State – not in a Jordanian air strike as the group previously claimed, the Pentagon said.