BRITISH terrorist "Jihadi John" is believed to have been killed in an air strike by US military.

Mohammed Emwazi, who earned the nickname "Jihadi John" after appearing in a series of sick beheading videos, was targeted by a drone during the operation last night.

Emwazi is believed to be responsible for the deaths of several IS hostages, including Scot David Haines.
His daughter, Bethany Haines said today she felt an "instant sense of relief" after hearing "Jihadi John" may have been killed.

She said: "After seeing the news that 'Jihadi John' was killed I felt an instant sense of relief, knowing he wouldn't appear in anymore horrific videos.

"He was only a pawn in Isis's stupid game but knowing it's over that he's finally dead still hasn't sunk in.
"As much as I wanted him dead I also wanted answers as to why he did it, why my dad, how did it make a difference?"

Mr Haines, a former RAF veteran from Perth, was seized in Syria in 2013 before being beheaded.
Emwazi appeared in the video of the beheading of Mr Haines in September 2014 and has also been linked the to death of British aid worker Alan Henning.

The Pentagon said it was assessing the information from yesterday's operation.

Prime Minister David Cameron said the operation was "an act of self defence" and "the right thing to do".

A Number 10 spokeswoman said: "We have been working hand in glove with the Americans to defeat Isil and to hunt down those murdering hostages.

"The Prime Minister has said before that tracking down these brutal murderers was a top priority."
Emwazi came to notoriety in a video in August 2014 which showed the beheading of US journalist James Foley.

He also appeared in videos showing the killings of Mr Henning and Mr Haines, American journalist Steven Sotloff, aid worker Abdul-Rahman Kassig and Japanese journalists Kenji Goto and Haruna Yukawa shortly before they were killed.

Last night's operation is being investigated by the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) which oversees the work of MI5, MI6 and GCHQ, after concerns were raised about its legal basis.

Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told the Press Association the drone strike "killed the British leader of Isis last night".

He said sources in Raqqa confirmed the death, but that they were uncertain of the man's identity at present.

Mr Mohammed Shafiq, chief executive of the Ramadhan Foundation said the reported killing was "a significant moment in the fight to get justice for David Haines, Alan Henning and all the victims of this evil man".

He said: "The Ramadhan Foundation joins the victims of IS and their families in preferring him to have being captured alive so he would have seen justice in a court of law but understand why this wasn't possible. Extra judicial killing over justice in a court of law should not become the norm in fight against terrorism.

"Mohammed Emwazi manifested the evil and barbaric nature of this terrorist entity called Daesh (IS) which has killed thousands of Muslims, Christians, Yazidis. There is nothing he said or stood for which would justify his barbaric crimes and actions.

"IS distort Islamic teaching to justify their violent crimes and it's this ideology which we have been confronting and will continue to do. Terrorism has no religion and there can never be any justification or excuses for such actions."

It emerged that Emwazi had been known to British intelligence services, but managed to travel to Syria in 2013.

Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook confirmed US forces conducted an air strike in Raqqa last night "targeting Mohamed Emwazi, also known as Jihadi John".

He said: "We are assessing the results of (the) operation and will provide additional information as and where appropriate."