The State Department is working to authenticate a video released today that reportedly shows the beheading of American journalist Steven Sotloff by ISIS militants.

State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki's comments came at the start of a briefing today in Washington.

Steven Sotloff is a journalist from Florida who was abducted last year while he was covering the conflict in Syria.

His mother Shirley released a video last week pleading for his release.

Psaki also said the U.S. continues to launch air strikes in Iraq to try to beat back the threat from ISIS.

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