BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The U.S. military said on Monday a Marine of Lebanese descent was missing in Iraq but a spokesman could not confirm he had been taken hostage.The spokesman said the Marine belonged to the First Marine Expeditionary Force and had been missing since June 21.
Sunday, Al Jazeera satellite television aired footage of militants saying they had taken a U.S. Marine hostage in Iraq and would behead him unless prisoners in Iraq were freed.
The blindfolded man in a camouflage uniform carried a Marine Corps active duty identity card that identified him as Wassef Ali Hassoun.
The U.S. military spokesman said a Marine by that name was missing from his unit.
"Contrary to press reports, Naval Criminal Investigative Services cannot confirm Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun was taken hostage," the spokesman said.
