Previous attacks in France perpetrated by Islamic State and in its name have been against freedom of speech (Charlie Hebdo), Western liberalism (the Bataclan theater), the ideals of the French Revolution, which stand at the heart of Western thought (the Bastille Day truck attack in Nice) and against Jews (Hyper Cacher).
Now, Islamic State has successfully committed its first act of war on European Christianity itself by taking hostages in a church and slitting the throat of an octogenarian priest as they forced him to kneel and then filmed themselves preaching in Arabic at the altar.
“We will conquer your Rome, break your crosses and enslave your women, by the permission of Allah,” read a statement from Islamic State spokesman Muhammad al-Adnani in 2014. In May, ahead of Ramadan, Adnani called on the “soldiers of the caliphate” to carry out attacks in Europe and the US and to target the “Crusaders.”
Islamic State has already been waging war on Christians in Iraq and Syria, committing countless atrocities that in March were declared as genocide by the US Congress.
A core part of the terrorist group’s ideology is the belief that an apocalyptic showdown will take place at Dabiq near Aleppo in Syria where the armies of “Rome” – aka Christianity – will be defeated by the armies of Islam. What Islamic State seeks is all-out war to make that apocalyptic vision reality.
Islamic State has already been waging war on Christians in Iraq and Syria, committing countless atrocities that in March were declared as genocide by the US Congress.
A core part of the terrorist group’s ideology is the belief that an apocalyptic showdown will take place at Dabiq near Aleppo in Syria where the armies of “Rome” – aka Christianity – will be defeated by the armies of Islam. What Islamic State seeks is all-out war to make that apocalyptic vision reality.
Police last night warned Britain’s Christians to be on alert amid fears they could be targeted by Islamic State jihadists.
Security was increased at the country’s 47,000 churches after an 84-year-old priest was beheaded by Muslim fanatics in France. The killing in Normandy was the first known attack claimed by IS inside a church in the West after compiling a hitlist of places of Christian worship.
Adel Kermiche, one of the two French teenagers killed by police after carrying out the morning slaughter – filmed on a mobile phone – told a friend two months ago: ‘I’m going to do a church.’
Last night counter-terror police in Britain disclosed they had ‘circulated specific advice’ to places of worship.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said: ‘Following recent events in France, we are reiterating our protective security advice to Christian places of worship and have circulated specific advice today. We are also taking this opportunity to remind them to review their security arrangements as a precaution.
‘This is part of our ongoing work with faith organisations, as well as other sectors, to help ensure the safety and security of their staff, visitors and members.’ He said: ‘There is no specific intelligence relating to attacks against the Christian community in the UK.
‘However, as we have seen, Daesh and other terrorist groups have targeted Christian as well as Jewish and other faith groups in the West and beyond. While the threat from terrorism remains unchanged at severe we urge the public to be vigilant. Be alert and not alarmed and report any suspicious activity via the anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789321. In an emergency always dial 999.’
There are around 5.4million Church members in the UK. In February last year, when a total of 17 people died in attacks by Islamist gunmen in Paris, including four men at a kosher supermarket, anti-terror police warned of ‘heightened concern’ of the risks to the Jewish community. It prompted an increase in patrols at schools and synagogues and in areas with large populations of the UK’s 263,000 Jews.
Every day, new volcanoes are spewing plumes of ash and gas around the world.
On July 25, 2016, 4 new volcanoes showed increased activity: Sakurajima (Japan), Reventador (Ecuador), Etna (Italy), Turrialba (Costa Rica).
Strongest explosion of Sakurajima volcano since 2013 – July 26, 2016
The Sakurajima volcano in southwestern Japan had an explosive eruption early Tuesday, spewing volcanic ash 5,000 meters into the sky.
High eruptive activity at Reventador volcano, Ecuador
The volcano is maintaining a high eruptive activity in the last two days. On July 26, 2016, a glowing crater and incandescent rocks rolling on the southeast flank of the crater have been observed.
The Turrialba volcano exploded 4 times on July 25, 2016. The first eruption at 7:22am spewed ashes 3000 meters in the air:
An earthquake measuring magnitude 6.0 struck about 73 km (45 miles) southeast of the tiny Pacific island nation of Vanuatu on Tuesday, the United States Geological Survey reported.
The shallow temblor, which struck at a depth of just 10 kilometres, did not trigger a tsunami warning, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre. There were no immediate reports of damage.
Just as the earthquake forecast for this week called for, now multiple M6.0+ earthquakes have struck the East and West Pacific within hours of each other.
Papua New Guinea / Solomon islands was struck with the exact expected magnitude (M6.3) in the exact warned location.
Chile was struck by a M6.1 in the exact warned location with the expected magnitude as well.
Proof yet again that pressure transfers across the Pacific plate , causing similar sized earthquakes thousands of miles apart.
Arab media reported Tuesday that Israeli aircraft responded to fire from Syria with missile fire aimed at a target in Syria.
after an open area in Israel was struck by fire from across the Israel-Syrian border.
An IDF spokesperson told Al Arabiya the Air Force “successfully targeted the source of the fire in Syria.”
Israeli aircraft fired two missiles at a building in Baath City on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights, near the border, the state-run Syrian SANA news agency reported.
On any given day, a strategically vital installation in the IDF’s Southern Command bristles with activity. From here, the military keeps a close watch on the Gaza Strip, and from here, all of Israel’s firepower will be managed in the event of another war with Hamas.
In the Strip, Hamas manufactures rockets, digs tunnels and prepares attacks. Israeli “eyes” keep tabs on these preparations.
In the Strip, Hamas manufactures rockets, digs tunnels and prepares attacks. Israeli “eyes” keep tabs on these preparations.
In the Southern Command’s Fire Control Center, screens display real-time visual data, broadcast centers, roads and vehicles of interest in Gaza.
Teams made up of the ground forces, air force, navy, Military Intelligence and Shin Bet agents work together, poring over the raw intelligence.
Col. Yuval Ben-Dov commands the center. In recent days, he provided The Jerusalem Post with a glimpse into its daily operations. Ben-Dov hails from the Artillery Corps, where he rose through the ranks. He trained reservists at the Ze’elim Ground Forces training center in the Negev, and commanded the Shivta field artillery training center, where units are prepared for the next war.
Since August, Ben-Dov has been in charge at the Fire Control Center, spearheading the IDF’s readiness for Hamas.
Col. Yuval Ben-Dov commands the center. In recent days, he provided The Jerusalem Post with a glimpse into its daily operations. Ben-Dov hails from the Artillery Corps, where he rose through the ranks. He trained reservists at the Ze’elim Ground Forces training center in the Negev, and commanded the Shivta field artillery training center, where units are prepared for the next war.
Since August, Ben-Dov has been in charge at the Fire Control Center, spearheading the IDF’s readiness for Hamas.
Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other combatants are well aware they are being watched.
“They are trying to vanish [but] we expose them. Knowing targets ahead of time always helps, though there are some things we will only know in real-time, during battle,” he said.
“They are trying to vanish [but] we expose them. Knowing targets ahead of time always helps, though there are some things we will only know in real-time, during battle,” he said.
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange said Tuesday his whistleblowing website might release "a lot more material" relevant to the US electoral campaign.
Assange was speaking in a CNN interview following the release of nearly 20,000 emails stolen from the Democratic National Committee by suspected Russian hackers.
Assange told CNN that Democratic Party officials were using the specter of Russian involvement to distract from the content of the emails, which have had tumultuous affect on the party at the start of its national convention, where it is expected to make Hillary Clinton its presidential nominee.
"It raises questions about the natural instincts of Clinton that when confronted with a serious domestic political scandal, she tries to blame the Russians, blame the Chinese, et cetera," Assange told CNN.
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