Murder of French Priest Brings ISIS' Long-threatened War on Christians to Europe

France: Priest Killed in ISIL-linked Attack on Church

French President Francois Hollande says the two armed men who took hostages at a church in Normandy had claimed allegiance to ISIL The men killed a priest and injured another person. Al Jazeera’s Emma Hayward reports.

Saudi Embassy Branded ‘Daesh Bank’ in Berlin Projection Stunt

Islamic State Leader Baghdadi Goads West in Rare Audio Statement

THE TELEGRAPH: In what is believed to be his first public message in seven months, Isil chief warns Israel attacks are imminent

The leader of Islamic State has released an alternative Christmas message goading the West, saying [the] do not dare send troops to their territory.

In a rare audio statement - his first in seven months - Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi said Western countries have "learned from" previous wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Crusaders and Jews don't dare to come on the ground because they were defeated in Iraq and Afghanistan," he said in his 23-minute statement.

The leader, who has rarely been pictured and has not been heard from since he was believed to have been injured in an airstrike by Iraqi forces in October, Russian or US-led airstrikes had failed to weaken the group, which was only "expanding and getting stronger".

"Be confident that God will grant victory to those who worship him, and hear the good news that our state is doing well. The more intense the war against it, the purer it becomes and the tougher it gets," he said.

He also called on Saudi citizens - the biggest contributor to Isil ranks - to "rise up" against their government as he dimissed the kingdom's newly formed Muslim coalition against the caliphate.

He also said Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) would soon be in Palestine to establish an Islamic state there. "Jews, soon you shall hear from us in Palestine which will become your grave," the voice, purporting to be Baghdadi, is heard saying. » | Josie Ensor | Saturday, December 26, 2015

ISIS Jihadis' Death Threat to West - Civilians Told to Convert to Islam or Be DECAPITATED

EXPRESS: CRAZED Islamic State (ISIS) jihadis have sent letters to European civilians ordering them to convert to Islam within three days or face being DECAPITATED in their own homes.

Bloodthirsty Daesh Islamists posted notes through the doors of dozens of random neighbours in several cities across Sweden, including the capital Stockholm, threatening to murder "non-believers" in a terrifying campaign of violence.

Sweden is now on lockdown after the chilling letters pledged to behead innocent civilians and then "bomb your rotten corpses afterwards".

Intelligence officials confirmed they are investigating the horrifying threats - which were signed by "ISIS" - as a state of fear gripped the nation.

The notes, written in Swedish, order people to convert to Islam or pay a religious tax, known as the jizya, warning that the police "will not save you from being murdered". Read on and comment » | Nick Gutteridge | Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Teacher Stabbed in Paris by Attacker Citing Islamic State

THE TELEGRAPH: Primary school teacher in a serious condition have being stabbed by a man wearing a balaclava and gloves in France

A hooded man claiming to be acting for the Islamic State group attacked a nursery school teacher with a knife as he prepared for classes in a school north of Paris.

The attack occurred at around 7am in Aubervilliers, north of Paris, when a primary school teacher was stabbed with a box cutter by a man wearing a balaclava and gloves, reported Le Parisien newspaper.

The attacker was dressed in painter's overalls and a balaclava and arrived without a weapon but grabbed what appeared to be a box cutter that was lying in the classroom.

According to local prosecutors the man shouted: "This is Daesh. This is a warning." Daesh is another name for IS. » | Agencies | Monday, December 14, 2015

France Says Fight against Isil Will Extend to Libya

THE TELEGRAPH: French Prime Minister Manuel Valls says the threat of further attacks like Paris remains "because we have hundreds, even thousands of young people who have succumbed to radicalisation".

France has suggested it will extend its military operation against jihadists to Libya, where extremists increasingly have a strong hold.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls called on Friday for International efforts to crush the Islamic State jihadist group (Isil) to extend to Libya.

"We are at war, we have an enemy, Daesh, that we must fight and crush in Syria, in Iraq and soon in Libya too," Valls said, using an Arabic acronym for the group.

Speaking four weeks after Isil gunmen and suicide bombers attacked Paris, Valls told France Inter radio the threat of further outrages remained "because we have hundreds, even thousands of young people who have succumbed to radicalisation".

French planes carried out surveillance flights over Libya last week. » | AFP | Friday, December 11, 2015

UK Airstrikes 'All Noise of Bombing and Propaganda' - Syria Minister

BBC: British warplanes have carried out their first airstrikes over Syria, after British MPs backed UK military action against so-called Islamic State (IS).

RAF Tornados conducted air strikes on six targets in Syria, according to the Ministry of Defence.

The BBC's Lyse Doucet spoke to Syria's information minister, Omran Zoubi, who described the airstrikes as "a noise of bombing and propaganda".

He also said anyone wanting to fight terrorism was "welcome" but had to do so "according to international law, and together with the Syrian government". (+ BBC video) » | Thursday, December 3, 2015

Hilary Benn Speech in Full: 'We Must Now Confront This Evil'

Wednesday’s Commons debate will be remembered for Hilary Benn’s extraordinary wind-up speech, in which he powerfully (but politely) challenged his own leader and asserted Labour’s claim to be the party of activist, hard-edged internationalism. Towards the end, he compared the imperative to bomb Isis in Syria to ‘why this entire House stood up against Hitler and Mussolini’

Ankara Backs Not Only Daesh But Offers Also Logistical Support - Pepe Escobar

A Russian warplane has gone down near the Turkish-Syrian border after an apparent attack. Turkish and Russian sources have given conflicting reports about the incident, which has the potential to escalate the tension between Russia and NATO member Turkey.

France: Hollande Says France Is 'At War,' Calls For Large Anti-IS Coalition

War on Terror: ISIS Threatens the Whole WORLD and Needs to Be ANNIHILATED, Says Hollande

EXPRESS: FRENCH President Francois Hollande has called for a “large coalition” against Islamic State to “annihilate” the terror group.

In a televised address today Francois Hollande said military operations in the Middle East would be intensified just days after it launched attacks on ISIS, also known as Daesh, destroying a number of targets.

He announced plans to form a coalition with USA and Russia “to carry out strikes on Dash because Daesh is guilty”.

The president added: “What’s at stake is annihilating an army that threatens the whole world and not just some countries.”

He told the nation “we are at war” and promised there would be increases recruitment for the both the judiciary and police forces. » | Rob Virtue | Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Comment Daesh utilise la crise des réfugiés pour sa propagande

LE POINT: Après avoir récupéré la photo du petit Aylan, le groupe djihadiste multiplie les vidéos pour dissuader les départs de Syriens et d'Irakiens vers l'Europe.

La cellule de propagande de l'organisation djihadiste État islamique sait s'inspirer de l'actualité. Pour mettre en garde ceux qui essaient de fuir vers l'Europe, l'EI a d'abord utilisé l'image du corps du petit Aylan Kurdi, trois ans, photographié sur une plage de Bodrum en Turquie après le naufrage du bateau qui devait le conduire avec sa famille en Grèce.

Elle vient de publier une dizaine de vidéos utilisant l'image des migrants pour « dénoncer l'émigration vers l'Occident, et notamment la France », affirme le spécialiste des réseaux djihadistes David Thomson sur Twitter. Des djihadistes de l'organisation y témoignent, mettant en garde contre un départ vers l'Europe : « En Europe, vous allez vers un mirage. L'Europe ne vous accordera ni la sécurité, ni la fierté, ni le confort. Vous allez dormir dans des parcs. Vous allez vider les poubelles des mécréants. Vous faites la plus grande erreur de votre vie en quittant la Syrie ou l'Irak pour l'Europe »... » | Par Le Point.fr (avec AFP) | Publié : jeudi 10 septembre 2015 / modifié : vendredi 18 september 2015

Comment Daesh crée son empire mondial

LE POINT: De l'Algérie à l'Indonésie, une vingtaine d'organisations ont fait allégeance au "califat" de l'organisation État islamique.

Un an à peine après la proclamation de son « califat » à cheval sur la Syrie et l’Irak , l’organisation État islamique (EI) multiplie les attaques à l'extérieur de ses « frontières ». Paris, Sousse, Copenhague ou encore Garland (Texas), le groupe djihadiste autoproclamé « État » cible les étrangers « infidèles » en réponse aux bombardements de la coalition internationale contre ses positions depuis septembre 2014. Cette force de frappe djihadiste s'explique tout d'abord par la multitude de « loups solitaires » présents en Occident. Par Skype, ces djihadistes, n'ayant parfois aucun lien avec l'EI ou n'ayant jamais combattu au Moyen-Orient, peuvent faire allégeance à distance avant de commettre leur attaque, revendiquée a posteriori par l'organisation. » | Par Paul Verdeau | lundi 6 juillet 2015