US President Barack Obama condemned on Sunday the purported beheading of a Japanese hostage by Daesh.
"The United States condemns the heinous murder of Japanese citizen and journalist Kenji Goto by the terrorist group ISIL (IS)," Obama said in a press release issued by the White House.
"Through his reporting, Mr Goto courageously sought to convey the plight of the Syrian people to the outside world," said the statement.