JAMES FOLEY

A jury has convicted a British national for his role in an Islamic State group hostage-taking scheme that took roughly two dozen Westerners captive a decade ago.

Hostages have offered searing testimony about their struggle to survive in the only U.S. trial for a member of an infamous terror cell known as “the Beatles.”

The ISIS kidnap-and-murder cell known as the "Beatles" held at least 27 foreign hostages in Syria between 2012 and 2015.

Jurors at the terrorism trial of British national El Shafee Elsheikh are hearing emotional testimony as the trial stretches into its second week in a Virginia courtroom.

A hostage who survived more than a year as a captive of the Islamic State is testifying about the beatings and torture inflicted on him by his captors.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — (AP) — A British national admitted Thursday evening in a federal courtroom near the nation's capital that he played a leadership role in an Islamic State scheme to torture, hold for ransom and eventually behead American hostages. The charges include hostage-taking resulting in death and providing material support to the Islamic State group from 2012 through 2015. Kotey is one of four Islamic State members who were dubbed “the Beatles” by their captives because of their British accents. The deal also requires him to cooperate with authorities and answer questions about his time in the Islamic State group. Kotey gave a somewhat detailed account of his time in Islamic State when U.S. District Judge T.S.

A British national has admitted in federal court that he played a leadership role in an Islamic State scheme to torture, hold for ransom and eventually behead American hostages.

One of two British nationals charged with joining with the Islamic State group and conspiring to torture and behead American and European hostages in Syria is scheduled to plead guilty to criminal charges.

One of two British nationals charged with joining the Islamic State group and conspiring to torture and behead American and European hostages in Syria is scheduled to plead guilty to criminal charges. Federal court records show a change of plea hearing has been scheduled for Thursday in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia, for Alexanda Amon Kotey. Kotey is one of four Islamic State members who were dubbed “the Beatles” by their captives because of their British accents.

President Joe Biden should be heading out on vacation and a traditional August break from Washington.

A new report says advocates for Americans held hostage overseas are concerned the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan could make it harder to bring home captives from the country.

However, it is not yet clear what immediate action the new administration will take to secure the release of dozens of Americans held overseas. Detained Americans can complicate U.S. diplomatic negotiations on other issues, and Iran is one country that has been accused of taking Americans hostage to gain leverage. The Biden administration hasn't explained yet how it plans to handle the Americans held in Iran. Brett McGurk, a presidential envoy for the Obama administration, is the official who brokered the swap. "My brother Siamak Namazi is now the longest held dual American-Iranian citizen, being held hostage by Iran since 2015."

(AP Photo/Hussein Malla, File)ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Two British men charged with helping the Islamic State group carry out executions and ransom negotiations for Western hostages pleaded not guilty Friday in a federal court. At a brief hearing Friday in the court just outside Washington, D.C., the two men pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial. No trial date was set after both men waived their right to a speedy trial because of the case's complexity. A status hearing was set for Jan. 15 to set a trial date then. “This involves a long investigation involving multiple countries,” Fitzpatrick said when asked about the volume of evidence that must be weighed.

El Shafee Elsheikh and Alexanda Kotey are two of four men who were dubbed “the Beatles” by the hostages because of the captors' British accents. The charges are a milestone in a yearslong effort by U.S. authorities to bring to justice members of the group known for beheadings and barbaric treatment of aid workers, journalists and other hostages in Syria. “If you have American blood in your veins or American blood on your hands, you will face American justice,” said Demers, the department's top national security official. The indictment charges the men in connection with the deaths of four American hostages — Foley, journalist Steven Sotloff and aid workers Peter Kassig and Kayla Mueller — as well as European and Japanese nationals who were also held captive. In July 2014, according to the indictment, Elsheikh described to a family member his participation in an IS attack on the Syrian Army.

A picture taken on November 5, 2012 in Aleppo shows US freelance reporter James Foley, who was kidnapped in war-torn Syria. "I'm hopeful that his demise will be a huge blow to the regrouping of ISIS. On Sunday, President Donald Trump announced that ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was dead after a US military raid in northwest Syria. Baghdadi had been at the helm of the organization that would later become ISIS since 2010, two years before James Foley was abducted by the group. Foley also said she hopes the US military can locate American hostages held abroad and bring them back home.

A June survey sponsored by Foley's foundation said hostage families report significantly more helpful government interactions than before that overhaul, but still want more communication. Current and former government officials describe the hostage recovery process, and communicating with families, as an urgent priority. Yet a recent survey from Foley's foundation shows hostage families still want better clarity on U.S. policies and laws, including on ransom and just how far immunity from prosecution will extend. More work remains, though, including support on basic quality-of-life issues for hostages who do make it home. The foundation aims to fill that void, with a support network of sorts so hostage families can connect with each other.

Former ISIS prisoners tell of torture in captivity Five former ISIS hostages spoke out about their captivity to The New York Times for the first time since their releases. They described the horrors that U.S. journalist James Foley and other captives endured before they were beheaded. Times reporter Rukmini Callimachi, who wrote the story, joins the "CBS This Morning" co-hosts to discuss her article.

Investigators believe they have ID'd ISIS executioner U.S. and British investigators believe they have identified the ISIS terrorist responsible for executing James Foley, Steven Sotloff, and David Haines. Officials also warned that despite this week’s airstrikes, both ISIS and al Qaeda remain a serious threat. Bob Orr reports.

Effort to rescue Foley and Sotloff was larger than Bin Laden raid The fighting force deployed to rescue journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff was made up of roughly 70 to 80 U.S. commandos, a much larger group than the one which killed Osama Bin Laden. While it appears the two Americans had once been held at the raid location, they were apparently moved prior to the operation. David Martin reports.

Austin Tice and James Foley had "similarities in their personalities" The parents of kidnapped journalist Austin Tice tell Clarissa Ward that James Foley and their son were friends. They also say that Foley helped search for their son before he was also kidnapped.

British Muslims signing up to fight for ISIS Hundreds of young men have left the UK to join the brutal terrorist group ISIS. The execution of journalist James Foley, apparently at the hands of a British citizen, has left the country struggling to understand how one of its own could be responsible for such an atrocity. Clarissa Ward reports.

Intelligence officials closing in on James Foley's killer British intelligence claims to have identified the terrorist who killed James Foley. U.S. sources will only say they are very close. Bob Orr reports from Washington.

Kelly Ayotte: James Foley's murder clarifies threat posed by ISIS Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., says a strategy of containment won't defeat extremists in Iraq and Syria, calling for an increase in American involvement.

Headlines at 7:30: Pope Francis makes phone call to parents of James Foley The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis made a phone call to the parents of murdered American journalist James Foley. Also, a new study from Columbia University has reversed autism in the brains of mice. "CBS This Morning" takes a look at some of today's headlines from around the globe.

Escaped hostage: "Oh my God, they're collecting us" Photographer Matthew Schrier told 60 Minutes that Syrian rebels were "collecting" U.S. journalists. James Foley was among them.

8/21: Inside the failed attempt to free hostages from ISIS; Ex-Virginia governor takes stand in his corruption trial The U.S. government admitted it tried to rescue American journalist James Foley and other hostages in Syria, but failed. Margaret Brennan has details on the unsuccessful raid and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel's dire warning about the militant group; and, on his first full day on the witness stand, former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell testified that his marriage was so bad during his four years as governor, he put it "on hold." McDonnell and his wife are charged with accepting more than $165,000 in gifts and using their official positions to support businessman Jonnie Williams' health supplement business.

Inside the failed attempt to free hostages from ISIS The U.S. government admitted it tried to rescue American journalist James Foley and other hostages in Syria, but failed. Margaret Brennan has details on the unsuccessful raid and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel's dire warning about the militant group.

ISIS' foreign fighters: James Foley's killer reportedly a British citizen An international manhunt is under way for Foley's killer, reportedly a British citizen who leads a group of ISIS fighters holding western prisoners. A former hostage says that "John" was one of a group of guards called "The Beatles." Holly Williams reports.

Former CIA deputy director on what it will take to stop ISIS terror group President Obama condemned ISIS on Wednesday for murdering James Foley and defended the latest U.S moves in Iraq. CBS News senior security analyst and former CIA deputy director Mike Morell joins "CBS This Morning" to discuss how difficult it is to find and rescue hostages like Foley.

Remembering James Foley The parents of James Foley addressed the media on Wednesday to discuss the life of their son. They said that Foley, who was beheaded by ISIS militants, lived out his passion as a journalist. Jim Axelrod explores how Foley documented humanity's refusal to abandon the light even when surrounded by darkness.

What threat does ISIS pose to the homeland? With the execution of American journalist James Foley, ISIS has essentially declared war on the U.S. CBS News' Bob Orr, Margaret Brennan and Major Garrett explain the threat that ISIS poses and how the U.S. can counter it.

Inside the goals and tactics of ISIS American journalist James Foley has become the first casualty of a new war against the U.S. Holly Williams reports on how the leaders of the terrorist group ISIS rule with brutality and fear.

Former Iraq ambassador on ISIS: "Containment is defeat" James Jeffrey, a former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq now with the Washington Institute, says President Obama is striking the right tone in condemning ISIS militants after the execution of journalist James Foley.

James Foley's parents remember him as fearless journalist At a news conference Wednesday, James Foley's parents said they are proud of their son. Diane Foley called her son courageous and a fearless journalist.

Obama on ISIS: "Their ideology is bankrupt" "No faith teaches people to massacre innocents," President Obama says, heatedly condemning the terrorist group ISIS after its members executed American journalist James Foley.

Obama: ISIS "has no place in the 21st century" President Obama says the Islamist militant group that executed journalist James Foley is a "cancer" that must be eradicated.