United States officials revealed on Wednesday that they sent a team to recover American journalist James Foley and other hostages from the Islamic militants but failed in that mission.

The militants beheaded Foley in retaliation to the U.S. airstrikes, former CIA director R. James Woolsey, Jr. said. Top counter-terrorism adviser Lisa Monaco gave details of the failed and apparently secret rescue operation launched in Syria this summer.

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The U.S. Special Operation Forces made its move earlier this summer after gathering enough information. Pentagon said that the rescue mission included ground and air operations.

Monaco described the operation as an "aggressive" attempt to recover the hostages. President Barack Obama authorized the rescue mission because the citizens were in danger, she added. However, the operation failed because they were unable to locate the hostages.

Monaco released the statement a day after the video of Foley's beheading appeared online. It did not include the names of the hostages or the exact dates of the operation.

The Pentagon also released a statement to address the mounting fears for the remaining ISIS captives. Spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. government is committed to the safety of its citizens, especially those trapped in the conflict.

Kirby said they are putting the best American army personnel "in harms' way" in an effort to bring U.S. citizens back home.

James Foley went missing on November 2012 while on assignment for GlobalPost. His family and friends had been pleading to locate the journalist since.

Another American journalist, Joel Sotloff, is placed on the dangerous spotlight with the militants' threat of beheading him next. That is, if President Obama refuses to end the military involvement of U.S. in Iraq, according to the video.

Reports said about 20 journalists are still missing in Syria and majority of them are held hostage by the militants.

The Islamic militants across the globe are known for beheading captives and posting of videos online as retaliation or warning.

The recent Foley case renewed fears for journalists in the field.

Tagsjames foley, James Woolsey Jr., Lisa Monaco, U.S. Special Operation Forces, Barack Obama, ISIS, John Kirby, Joel Sotloff, Iraq