thursday, august 21st. announcer: from abc news, this is world news now. good morning. i m michelle franzen. i m devin dwyer. great to have you with us. two big stories we re following this morning. both with the manhunt, islamic extremists, and in ferguson. we hope you stay with us for that. there is much to come in this half-hour. we do start with the search on right now for the islamic extremists responsible for the execution of american journalist james foley. meanwhile, a new report in the new york times says isis militants once sought $100 million ransom for foley s release. with more here is abc s brian ross. reporter: as outrage spread around the world over this scene, jim foley s parents said they had never been prouder of their son. he was strong, courageous, loving to the end. you know from the videos that his last words were, i wish i had more time to see my family. reporter: u.s. and british authorities spent the day looking for clues on the video
good morning. i m michelle franzen. i m devin dwyer. great to have you with us. two big stories we re following this morning. both with the manhunt, islamic extremists, and in ferguson. we hope you stay with us for that. there is much to come in this half-hour. we do start with the search on right now for the islamic extremists responsible for the execution of american journalist james foley. meanwhile, a new report in the new york times says isis militants once sought $100 million ransom for foley s release. with more here is abc s brian ross. reporter: as outrage spread around the world over this scene, jim foley s parents said they had never been prouder of their son. he was strong, courageous, loving to the end. you know from the videos that his last words were, i wish i had more time to see my family. reporter: u.s. and british authorities spent the day looking for clues on the video
reporter: foley filed his final report from syria for the global post just before he was captured almost two years ago. word of a failed rescue attempt that if it had worked would have saved foley s life. senior administration officials tell abc news that president obama authorized a bold u.s. military operation into syria earlier this summer to rescue foley and several u.s. hostages, but that when the special operations team arrived at the site there were no hostages present. officials say several dozen u.s. forces were involved and that a number of isis fighters were killed. but there were no american casualties other than one slight injury. brian ross, abc news, new york. as of now, we have gotten no further word about the other american hostage seen in foley s execution video. isis threatened to kill journalist stephen soltoff, seen kneeling and dressed in an orange jumpsuit. the group says that he will be
jim was taken from us in an act of violence that shocks the conscious of the world. reporter: foley s bosses at global post told abc news they tried to negotiate his release. but last wednesday they received an e-mail from his captors. just a statement they were going to execute jim. reporter: the video released showing the murder is graphic and chilling. there is foley in an orange jumpsuit kneeling down. his isis executioner standing next to him. i wish i could have the hope of freedom and seeing my family once again, he said, but that ship has sailed. outside their home in new hampshire, foley s parents showed incredible grace and strength. we just pray that, that jim s death can bring our country together in a stronger way and with the values that jim holds dear. reporter: the isis video has sparked major concerns in the u.s. and u.k. we ll work with our law enforcement, intelligence and military partners to fry to
let s hope the calm takes a hold soon. tahman bradley reporting live from ferguson. thank you, tahman. our other big story this morning is international outrage at the gruesome execution of american journalist james foley. a worldwide manhunt is now under way to bring those responsible for foley any death to justice. particularly the isis militant who appears in the video of his execution. after that video was verified yesterday, foley s parents showed their grace and strength. we just pray that that jim s death can bring our country together in a stronger way. and with the values that jim holds dear. foley s parents said they have never been more proud of their son. well, we now know there was a secret u.s. mission to rescue foley and other americans being held in syria earlier this summer. but it came up empty-handed. what options does president obama have now when it comes to battling the isis militants? here s abc s jonathan carl. reporter: in gruesome murder video, j