The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria terrorist group (ISIS) is threatening more attacks, specifically naming Rome, Israel and Egypt. In a new propaganda video, ISIS vows to overrun the Italian capital and launch attacks on the Jewish state.
The clip, titled 'Desert Flame', also shows Egyptian military targets being attacked by ISIS. It is believed to have been made by terrorists in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula – showing how ISIS’ influence is spreading. The voiceover describes past attacks in the Sinai region – and how the killers will continue to target Westerners.
The fighter said: "This is only the beginning, and our meeting will be in Rome and Jerusalem. Oh Jews, wait for us. The punishment [we have prepared for you] is severe and soon you will pay a high price."
The narrator can also be heard claiming that Egypt's military, which has for over two years been combating Islamic insurgents in the unruly Sinai region, has failed to protect Israel. Jews started defending themselves by "strictly protecting [the border], recruiting agents, and [launching] airstrikes," he adds. The video ends with footage of terrorists from the group executing two Egyptian military personnel, whom ISIS claimed to have abducted in a raid on a checkpoint in the Northern Sinai city of Arish.
After suffering crushing defeats in Syria and Iraq over the past few months, Sinai has become an increasingly important area for the terrorist group. According to some reports, ISIS has lost a quarter of its captured terroritory in the past 18 months. However, the number of countries with ISIS branches has trebled in the past two years.
In April, 12 jihadis left Gaza, next to Israel, to join the ISIS wing in the region and last month Israel conducted several drone strikes on terrorists in the peninsula, according to a former Israeli official.
