Islamic State Encourages Attacks on U.S., Russia

A recent audio message distributed to Islamic State sympathizers this week called on youth across the world to carry out attacks against the U.S. and Russia.

The audio recoring, obtained by several media outlets, called on youth to carry out the attacks in response to ongoing airstrikes against the Islamic State carried out by the U.S. and Russia, among other western countries.

"Islamic youth everywhere, ignite jihad against the Russians and the Americans in their crusaders' war against Muslims," the recording from Islamic State spokesman Abu Mohammad al-Adnani said.

The terrorist group called on young Islamic State sympathizers to carry out a "holy war" against countries that attempt to defeat their terrorist activities.

Adnani went on to argue that "Russia will be defeated," adding that the United States is attempting to "to forge an alliance with the devil."

The Islamic State leader went on to say that the terrorist group "is today stronger than ever."

The Islamic State audio message comes as the United States and Russia struggle to reach an agreement on how to defeat the Islamic State in Syria.

While Russia claims to be targeting the Islamic State and other terror groups in the Middle East via airstrikes, the U.S. has argued that Russia and its president Vladimir Putin are more focused on targeting the opposition to ally Bashar al-Assad.

The president criticized Putin's strategy in Russia recently, saying that "rather than being able to count on their support and maintain the base they had in Syria, which they've had for a long time, Mr. Putin now is devoting his own troops, his own military, just to barely hold together by a thread his sole ally."