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Taking the fight to the Islamic State! Following U.S. airstrikes, Iraqi and Kurdish fighters seize Mosul dam

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The Islamic State threatens to 'drown' American 'in blood'

Following several days of U.S. airstrikes and battles with Iraqi and Kurdish forces, the Islamic State has taken to the web to threaten the U.S. and any other potential threat.

Highlights

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
8/19/2014 (9 years ago)

Published in Middle East

Keywords: International, Middle East, Iraq

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The terrorist group posted a video on YouTube-which has been taken down-threatening to attack all Americas "in any place" if U.S. airstrikes hit any member of the Islamic State. The video was spliced with scenes of militants shooting American soldiers, and they broadcast a picture of an American who was beheaded during the U.S. occupation of Iraq.

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The Islamic State used the hashtag #AmessagefromISIStoUS, which has been tweeted more than 70,000 times. The video also showed an American flag splattered with blood, followed by "We will drown all of you in blood."

The video was released following the retaking of the vital Mosul Dam in northern Iraq, which the Islamic State had taken from Kurdish forces only recently. The U.S. has carried out 68 airstrikes in Iraq since the operation began on August 8, and an Iraqi army official reported that Iraqi and Kurdish forces had "fully liberated the dam" and that troops had "hoisted the Iraqi flag over it."

"The dam is completely under out control," he continued. "Our soldiers are now relaxing swimming in the lake."

The defeat is one of the first for the Islamic State, which had taken incredible gains in Iraq starting in early 2014. The state has also amassed millions of dollars, vast tracts of land, American weapons and fresh recruits-many of whom come from Europe and Africa.

The Islamic State fired back with propaganda on their social media sites, threatening death to America and that the Iraqi army claims were false.

"Social media is driving the mobilization phenomenon in ways nobody could have anticipated," said John Horgan, director of the University of Massachusetts Center for Terrorism and Security Services. "The Islamic State is proving that fantasy and reality don't have to be so differing. Recruits are reportedly having very positive experiences."

Horgan says that these message show an image of invincibility back home, which can persuade fresh recruits to join even in times of crushing defeat. "The message is-why are you living out your hopeless lives when you could be here with us, making a difference, and achieving immortality online?"

"They are getting far more adept at persuading others of the righteousness of their cause," he continued. "They don't need to rely on clumsy, half-baked propaganda. They simply tweet images of emaciated corpses, bloodied infant bodies, and these images resonate more than any propaganda narrative ever could."

Deacon Keith Fournier Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you. Help Now >

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