Behind New Attacks & Shootings in Paris
Saturday, November 14, 2015
Eight ISIS terrorists wielding AK-47s and wearing suicide belts carried out coordinated attacks at six sites around Paris Friday night, killing at least 127 people and wounding at least 180 others, France's president said Saturday.
Speaking after an emergency security meeting to plan his government's response, Francois Hollande declared three days of national mourning and raised France's security to its highest level. He described Friday's attacks, which produced the worst bloodshed in Paris since World War II, as an "act of war." Hollande said ISIS was "a terrorist army ... a jihadist army, against France, against the values that we defend everywhere in the world, against what we are: A free country that means something to the whole planet."
Hollande also vowed that France "will be merciless toward the barbarians of Islamic State group" and promised his government would "act by all means anywhere, inside or outside the country." France is already bombing ISIS targets in Syria and Iraq as part of the U.S.-led coalition, and has troops fighting extremists in Africa.
Less than an hour after Hollande's statement, ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack in an online statement that described Paris as "the carrier of the banner of the Cross in Europe" and described the attackers as "eight brothers wrapped in explosive belts and armed with machine rifles."
"Let France and those who walk in its path know that they will remain on the top of the list of targets of the IS," the statement also read, in part, "and that the smell of death will never leave their noses as long as they lead the convoy of the Crusader campaign.".
But is the Islamic State truly the perpetrator of the attacks ?
The Islamic State has officially claimed responsibility for the attacks.
This statement was released by ISIS in French:
An English translation reads :
In the name of Allah, the All Merciful, the Very Merciful.The Very High All Said: “It is He who expelled the ones who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture from their homes at the first gathering. You did not think they would leave, and they thought that their fortresses would protect them from Allah ; but [the decree of] Allah came upon them from where they had not expected, and He cast terror into their hearts [so] they destroyed their houses by their [own] hands and the hands of the believers. So take warning, O people of vision.” Surah 59 verse 2.In an attack which Allah has blessed facilitates the causes, a group of soldiers of the Caliphate Believers, Allah done him power and victory, has targeted the capital abomination and perversion, that carrying the banner of the cross on Europe, Paris.A group with divorce life of this world is advancing towards their enemy, seeking death in the cause of Allah, rescuing religion, prophet and his allies, and wishing humiliating his enemies. They were truthful with Allah, we consider them as such. Allah conquered by their hand and throw fear into the hearts of the Crusaders in their own land.
Before the official announcement, ISIS affiliated accounts on Twitter reportedly claimed the attacks for the Islamic State. They used the hashtag “Paris on Fire” in Arabic to celebrate the attacks, the same hashtag ISIS used to celebrate the Charlie Hebdo terror attack. However, French citizens and others voicing their sympathy for Parisians have tried to take over the hashtag with patriotic memes.
Within the past two days, ISIS has had two major losses. Yesterday, reports came in that a drone strike conducted by the United States killed Mohammed Emwazi, otherwise known as “Jihadi John.” Jihadi John carried out the execution videos of Steven Sotloff, David Haines, Alan Henning and Abdul-Rhaman Kassig, known also as a Peter Kassig.
Earlier Friday, reports came in that United States supported Kurds retook Sinjar, Iraq. According to CNN, reclaiming Sinjar was “one big step toward dividing the ‘caliphate’ that ISIS claims it is establishing across the region. The artery that passes through the town — Route No. 47 — links the Iraqi city of Mosul — ISIS’ prized possession — with cities it holds in Syria.”
ISIS also responded to both of these defeats with a suicide bombing in Beirut, Lebanon allegedly carried out by Islamic State militants that killed 43 people, reports CNN.
To read more about the latest attacks in Paris, click here. In response to the attack, French President François Hollande has closed the country’s borders and imposed a curfew. It’s the first time since World War II that the country has had a curfew.
source : http://www.foxnews.com