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Islamic State Crisis: US Coalition Targets I.S Refineries In Syria

Amateur video posted on a social media website on Wednesday (September 24) purported to show U.S.-led air strikes over the Syrian city of al Mayadin. … Continue reading Islamic State Crisis: US Coalition Targets I.S Refineries In Syria


IsisAmateur video posted on a social media website on Wednesday (September 24) purported to show U.S.-led air strikes over the Syrian city of al Mayadin.

The video, filmed at night, shows an explosion in the distance and the audio of a male voice can be heard saying, in Arabic: “God is great. American air strikes over the city of al Mayadin”.

Reuters is unable to independently verify the content of the video which was obtained from a social media website.

At least 14 Islamic state fighters and at least 5 civilians were said to have been killed in the air strikes overnight in north-east Syria.

Meanwhile, 24 hours after the beheading of a French tourist in a style very similar to that of ISIS, France has announced that it is not intimidated in the least and would do the opposite of what the extremist group has requested, by boosting its support for Syrian opposition forces fighting ISIS.

Herve Gourdel was kidnapped while on holiday by members of a splinter group allied to Islamic state, who said in the video released online that he was being killed in response to France’s military intervention in Iraq.

Speaking on Europe 1 Radio, Interior Minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, whose brief includes internal security, said that the country would not be scared by the militants’ campaign.

“No, France is not scared because it must not be afraid. Fear is a feeling that terrorists want to instil and if fear takes hold it will be a victory of terrorists. France is not scared, and it has what it needs to deal with these abominable crimes, and will fight them.

“It (France) will see this fight through so that the values of respect, tolerance and humanity prevail over barbarism and we will lead this fight at home and abroad.”

There might still be hope for the likes of hostage, Alan Hemming , who is still believed to be alive.

In greater Manchester, about 100 people gathered to call for the release of Alan Hemming, a British aid worker held hostage in Syria.

Supporters wore t-shirts saying “free ‘gadget’ Alan Henning” – a nickname given to him because he was good at fixing things.

IS militants issued a threat to kill Henning in a video released on September 13, which showed the killing of another British man, David Haines.

A ribbon is tied for his safe release but now the UK parliament is due to vote on air strikes against IS in Iraq on Friday.