Beirut: The Islamic State group called on Muslims on Tuesday to wage jihad on Russia and the United States, as Moscow announced it had intensified its air campaign against Islamic militants in Syria.
The call came as Russian President Vladimir Putin criticised Washington for refusing to cooperate with Moscow in its Syrian campaign, which is having an increasingly dramatic effect.
“Russia will be defeated,” IS spokesman Abu Mohamed al-Adnani said in a recording posted online, calling on “Muslims everywhere to launch jihad against the Russians and the Americans,” who it said were waging “a crusader war against Muslims.”
IS seeks not only to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad but is also vying with Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front for jihadist supremacy in the country.
Al-Nusra chief Abu Mohamed al-Jolani also threatened Moscow, saying its air war would have dire consequences.
