Gruesome Islamic State video threatens Iraqi soldiers

2014-07-29 2

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: CONTAINS GRAPHIC MATERIAL

This is the public face of the militants now known as Islamic State, as presented in a newly-released video designed to terrify Iraqis into submission.

The al Qaeda spin-off has already seized large parts of Iraq, but it wants much more, and is now waging a psychological war on Iraqi soldiers.

The 30-minute video clip promotes and celebrates the group's conquests as they ravage Iraqi cities.

...Destroying places of worship, and executing captured soldiers in scenes too gruesome to be shown for general consumption.

An Islamic State commander gives militants the promise of heaven if they take on the city of Samarra.

And a suicide bomber carries on with his mission.

Capitalizing on the unraveling of Iraq's army last month, the radical insurgents say they are determined to build on their lightning advance through northern towns and cities.

Thousands of soldiers have fled. But this new video provi