The ISIL terrorist group in Syria is reportedly demanding a $6.6 million ransom for releasing a 26-year-old American woman

The ISIL militant group in Syria is reportedly demanding a $6.6 million ransom for releasing a 26-year-old American woman.

The woman, whose identity is being kept secret at her family’s request for fears of her safety, was captured in Syria last year while doing humanitarian aid work, the Associated Press reported.

The terrorist group recently threatened to kill American hostages to avenge the crushing airstrikes in Iraq against militants advancing on Mount Sinjar and the Kurdish capital of Irbil.

A representative for the family and U.S. officials asked Tuesday that the woman not be identified out of fear for her safety. All spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the issue publicly.

More than a week ago, freelance journalist James Foley of Rochester, New Hampshire, was beheaded by the Islamic State group, which kidnapped him in November 2012.
The Islamic State video of Foley's beheading also showed another of the missing American journalists, Steven Sotloff, and warned he would be killed next if U.S. airstrikes continued.

The ISIL terrorist group had originally demanded the United States to provide a ransom of $100 million before decapitating Foley, but the US refused to pay, according to The New York Times.