State Department spokesman Jen Psaki once urged Russia to live up to “the promise of hashtag” on Twitter. Now, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) is using hashtags to promise upcoming terrorist attacks on American soil.
The Sunni radical army fighting in Syria and seizing cities across Iraq started the hashtag #CalamityWillBefallUS as a way of chronicling its promise to bring terror to America and its interests overseas.
“American people! Stop your warplanes! American tourists in all countries will be in danger #CalamityWillBefallUS,” one member tweeted on Friday.
“Believe me 11th of Sep. is just a picnic if we compare it to our coming strikes,” tweeted another.
The organization has even decided to voice its message to U.S. celebrities. It tweeted to late-night host Jimmy Kimmel and Oprah Winfrey: “Our advice for u #America is not to fight for #Iran or #Israel #ISIS #ISIL @jimmykimmel @OprahS.”
Most of the accounts get shut down by Twitter, but the Islamic radicals immediately start new accounts, Business Insider reported Friday.
SEE ALSO: Baghdad surrounded: ‘Nightmare scenario’ unfolding as ISIL takes key supply routes
ISIL’s goal is to restore an Islamic caliphate across the entire Middle East, and beyond if possible. The Obama administration is sending 300 U.S. troops to Iraq to serve as military advisers in an attempt to thwart the terrorist army’s objectives and prevent a civil war from erupting in Iraq.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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