U.S. cannot verify video purporting to show beheading of U.S. hostage

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Tuesday said it could not immediately confirm reports that Islamic State had released a video purporting to show the beheading of American hostage Steven Sotloff. White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters in a briefing that if there is such a video, it would be analyzed very carefully, adding that the administration's thoughts and prayers were with Sotloff's family. Shortly before the briefing, the SITE monitoring service said the militant group had released the video. (Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Mohammad Zargham)