New Audio: Al Qaeda, ISIS Urged to Unite Against West
A new audio recording from the leader of al Qaeda is threatening Americans with another attack. It also calls on jihadists worldwide, including members of ISIS, to join with the terror group to drive foreign forces from Syria.
Meanwhile, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken announced an expanded effort against ISIS in Syria, saying, "We are intensifying our efforts on all fronts..."
The U.S. is doing that by supporting anti-Syrian rebels, pursuing diplomatic efforts to end the war -- and now U.S. boots on the ground. American Special Forces -- perhaps 50 or more -- will be helping the Kurds in northern Syria.
The Obama administration insists they're in Syria to act as advisers and trainers.
*What would an ISIS-Al Qaeda coalition mean for U.S. troops in Syria? CBN News' Erick Stakelbeck addressed that question and more on The 700 Club, Nov. 3. Click play to watch that inteview following Gary Lane's report.
"As it relates to their mission, this is an important thing for the American people to understand: these forces do not have a combat mission," White House press secretary Josh Earnest said.
But some U.S. politicians have criticized the move. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told "Fox News Sunday" it shows Obama is not all in.
"It's a sign of weakness to ISIL. They sized Obama up and they think he's weak. To our allies, sending 50 troops means we are not committed to destroying ISIL. And if we're not committed to destroying ISIL, they will attack us here," he warned.
But the Russians do seem to be all in. So far, their bombing campaign has helped the Assad regime re-capture about 5 percent of Syrian government territory.
All of this has led to new comments from al Qaeda's number one in command, Aymin al-Zawahiri. He's calling on Muslims to unify to drive the foreigners from Syria and the Middle East.
"The Americans, Russians, Iranians, Alawites, and Hezbollah are coordinating their war against us -- are we not capable of stopping the fighting among ourselves so we can direct all our efforts against them?" Zawahiri said challenged in a new audio recording.
That means unifying with ISIS--a group al-Zawahiri has denounced, criticizing its self-proclaimed caliphate and caliph.
There's an old saying in the Middle East: "Me and my cousin against one another, we fight one another, but me and my cousin against all the others."
So, when there is a common enemy, they will go after that common enemy.
Al-Zawahiri also threatened another attack on America's heartland and he praised the recent killing of Jews at Jerusalem's Temple Mount.
And ISIS has released a new anti-Semitic video in the Hebrew language threatening jihad against Israel. It refers to Jews as the "grandchildren of monkeys and apes" and says the Islamic State will continue until it "eradicates this disease from the world."
