‘We will be in paradise, they will burn in hell,’ says defiant Islamic State video as group faces final Syria fight
- ‘What is our guilt? What is our crime?’ asks extremist fighter in small town besieged by US-backed rebels who are poised to move in
“Servants of God, keep reciting your prayers and ask for forgiveness,” the loudspeaker on a beaten up van cries as it tours the ramshackle camp in the video. “Repent and ask God for forgiveness, oh servants of God, for perhaps the almighty will find a way out for us.”
The video’s tone is a far cry from the extremist group’s earlier productions, which boasted of victories in taking over around a third of Syria and Iraq at its height in 2014 and summoned followers around the world to join a growing society.
While acknowledging its military setbacks in the face of a global campaign against it, Islamic State uses the new film to urge followers to maintain their faith in IS even in adversity.
“Tomorrow, God willing, we will be in paradise and they will be burning in hell,” said an Islamic State member whom the video identified as Abu Abd al-Azeem, whose speech is peppered with Koranic recitations.