Doubt over ISIL’s claims of hostage killed by friendly fire

The US has remained skeptical over the fate of an ISIL hostage the terror group claims was killed in a Jordanian airstrike.

American aid worker Kayla Mueller has been held by ISIL since August 2013, when she was captured while helping Syrian refugees.

ISIL now claims she was killed in an airstrike, publishing pictures of a building which it claimed was used to house the hostage.

However, the US and Jordan have expressed doubt.

Marie Harf of the US State Department said she could not confirm reports of Ms Mueller’s death “in any way”.

Jordanian authorities tweeted claims hostages were killed by friendly fire was an “old and sick trick used by terrorists and despots for decades”.

Ms Mueller is thought to be ISIL’s last American hostage.

It has been claimed the price demanded for her freedom was $7 million.

Jordan this week stepped up its airstrikes on ISIL following the extremist group’s murder of a captured pilot.