The American aid worker threatened in an ISIS video showing the beheading of British hostage Alan Henning on Friday has been identified as Abdul-Rahman Kassig. 

Kassig, 26, belonged to the aid organization Special Emergency Response and Assistance (SERA). He is a former Army Ranger and an Iraq war veteran.

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His parents, Ed and Paula Kassig, confirmed that the man threatened with exeuction in the video of Henning's beheading was their son Peter, who changed his name to Abdul-Rahman following his conversion to Islam.

Kassig was doing work for a SERA project when he was taken hostage on Oct. 1, 2013, on his way to the eastern Syrian city of Dier Ezzour,  a family spokesperson said on Friday.

In a statement released to the public, Kassig's family, who are based in Indianapolis, offered condolences to Henning's family: "The Kassig family extends our concern for the family of Alan Henning. We have read about his work and his generous character with great respect and admiration."

It also asked "everyone around the world to pray for the Henning family, for our son, and for the release of all innocent people being held hostage in the Middle East and around the globe."

Kassig founded SERA after serving in the Iraq war to help people displaced by the conflict in Syria. The organization has suspended operations while coworkers, family and friends set out to try to secure his release.

According to the family statement, they have learned from former hostages that Kassig has drawn comfort from his faith during his captivity.

Kassig went to Lebanon in 2012. He was at the time enrolled at Butler University in Indianapolis as a political science major. 

In an interview with Time magazine in 2013, Kassig explained the aims of his organization: "It's about showing people that we care, that someone is looking out for those who might be overlooked or who have slipped through the cracks in the system for whatever reason."

TagsAlan Henning, Peter Kassig, ISIS, Syria conflict