Authored by Jason Ditz via AntiWar.com,
Even as Pentagon officials have sought to emphasize their claims of ISIS being “on the run,” ever more US ground troops are being deployed into Iraq to try to cope with ISIS offensives, with the battle of Makhmur leading to the introduction of US Marines in front-line combat roles.
In a new video, the group Anonymous has threatened ISIS again. It comes in response to the claim made by terror group saying it was responsible for the recent terror attacks in Belgium: “Our freedom is once again under attack,” said a computerized voice in the latest video.
Belgian and Western authorities knew the details about the ISIS attack in Brussels on Tuesday, but failed to do anything about it. The Belgian security services knew precise details about the attack plan, which was formulated at the de-factor ISIS capital of Raqqa, in Syria. Haaretz.com reports: The security services knew, with a high degree of certainty, that attacks were planned in the very near future for the airport and, apparently, for the subway as well.
ISIS have issued a statement following the attack in Brussels, saying that they intend to commit to further numerous small-scale attacks in Belgium and Europe – without the need for centralised coordination or authority from their leaders. ISIS say that individual militants and cells are now free to operate semi-independently – opening the gates for many more spontaneous attacks throughout Europe.
The Pentagon have confirmed that they knew about the Brussels attacks in advance saying that they had foreknowledge that ISIS had planned to launch an attack on the city. Despite the intelligence the U.S. were still unable to prevent Tuesday’s tragedy. Three officials told Reuters that whilst the United States government knew the attacks were going to take place, they did not know exactly when or where they would occur.