Islamic State Releases Personal Info for 1,400 Americans, Encourages Attacks

The Islamic State terror group has allegedly posted the personal information of 1,400 U.S. military and government personnel on the internet, encouraging sympathizers of the terror group to carry out "lone wolf" attacks.

The personal information list, which includes emails, phone numbers, and names, was posted online Wednesday by the terror group's alleged "hacking division." Although some military outlets have pointed to a data breach, the army has staunchly argued that the names were obtained by a cyber attack.

"This is the second or third time they've claimed that and the first two times I'll tell you, whatever lists they got were not taken by any cyber attack," army chief of staff, Gen Ray Odierno, told The Guardian this week.

"This is no different than the other two," Odierno added, referencing two previous "cyber-attacks" carried out by the terror group earlier this year. 

The alleged hacking comes days after the terror group claimed to have beheaded a Croatian hostage in Egypt after demands to have female Muslim prisoners released from custody were not met.

Hisham Kassem, an Egypt-based political analyst, told The Washington Post this week that the abduction of the Croatian hostage, named Tomislav Salopek, reveals a weakness in Egypt's security force.

Salopek's abduction "reveals the weakness of our security force in being able to prevent things like this," Kassem told the media outlet, adding that the incident "will raise insurance prices for products and people coming to work here."

"And this will have an economic effect," Kassem added.