Local Police Chief, Col. Qasim al-Obeidi, told BBC News that he didn’t know exactly who the people were or why they were burned to death, but he believed some of those murdered were members of security forces. The BBC said that Al-Obeidi’s report could not be confirmed.
ISIS fighters captured much of the town of al-Baghdadi last week. The town is very near the al-Asad air base, 100 miles west of Baghdad. Al-Obeidi also told the BBC that a compound housing security force families and local officials was now under attack by the terrorists.
This latest report comes just days after ISIS released a video showing the horrible killings of 21 Coptic Christian Egyptians in a town in Libya. The beheadings ignited international condemnation, including remarks from Pope Francis, who called the beheadings “barbaric assassination”.
ISIS responded to the Vatican’s comments with the release of a new video, purported to show the beheading of several men in orange jumpsuits, and a militant ranting into the camera, saying “Safety for you crusaders is something you can only wish for. And we will conquer Rome, by the will of Allah,” according to a report in Digital Journal today.
Al-Obeidi pleaded for help from the Iraqi government and from the international community. Al-Baghdadi fell to the terrorist group on Friday, although Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm John Kirby played down the capture, telling reporters that this was the first time in a couple of months that ISIS had gained new ground. But with 320 U.S. Marines stationed just five miles away at al-Asad air base, there is cause for concern. The base was targeted by several suicide bombers on Friday, but they were repelled by Iraqi troops.
