Politics
U.S. military attempted to rescue James Foley
Last month, the U.S. military conducted a secret operation intended to rescue a number of Americans who were taken captive by militants in Syria. President Obama approved of the mission after intelligence agencies were confident that they had identified the location where the hostages were being held.
Two-dozen specialists were dropped via aircraft in Syria in early July, however the troops were not able to locate the hostages. Before departing, the special operations troops engaged in a firefight with ISIS members.
“A number of militants, but no Americans, were killed. One American sustained a minor injury when an aircraft was hit. According to a Syrian opposition media centre, the operation took place around 2am on July 3rd just outside Raqqa at their ‘Sheikh Osama Military Camp.’ Five were killed, according to a post on their facebook account on July 4,” reports The Telegraph.
The news of the special operations mission came just a day after militants released a video showing the brutal execution of U.S. journalist James Foley. Foley was a freelance journalist working for the Global Post. The militants threatened to kill another journalist, Steven Sotloff, if U.S. airstrikes against the militants continue.
“There has to be a common effort to extract this cancer so that it does not spread,” said President Obama at a press conference.
The execution video of James Foley shows an Islamic terrorist next to Foley as he is forced to denounce the United States immediately before his beheading.
“Your strikes have caused casualties amongst Muslims. You are no longer fighting an insurgency. We are an Islamic army and a state that has been accepted by a large number of Muslims worldwide. So any attempt by you, Obama, to deny Muslims their rights of living in safety under the Islamic Caliphate will result in the bloodshed of your people,” said the militant in an English accent.
The downright appalling video is indicative of ISIS militants’ lack of any common decency or humanity.
“Today the entire world is appalled by the brutal murder of Jim Foley by the terrorist group ISIL,” said the President Obama.
“Jim Foley’s life stands in stark contrast to his killers. Let’s be clear about ISIL. They have rampaged across cities and villages, killing innocent unarmed civilians in cowardly acts of violence. They abduct women and children and subject them to torture, rape, and slavery,” continued the president in a notably perturbed tone.
