Islamic State (Isis) in its first official announcement, declaring its presence in Yemen, has released a video in which it says that the "soldiers of the Caliphate" have arrived in the country to "cut the throats" of the Shiite Houthis.
Isis militants have released a video announcing their presence in Yemen.
Isis militants have released a video announcing their presence in Yemen. ISIS Media/Twitter
In the 9-minute-20-second video recorded and edited in top-notch Hollywood style, dozens of Isis militants are seen walking across what is claimed to be the deserts close to Sanaa, the capital of Yemen. It also claims that the high-quality clip was produced by the Isis Media in Sanaa.
In the video, posted on Friday, the Isis militants are seen carrying out military drills armed with AK-47 Kalashnikov Assault Rifle. Then an Isis fighter, who appears to be the commander of the militants, thrusts an Isis flag into the ground and declares that he will "cut the throats of all Houthis."
"We have come to Yemen, with men hungry for your blood to avenge the Sunnis and take back the land they have occupied," the Isis commander said in the video. Then he appeals all Sunni men of fighting age in Yemen to join them for the cause.
The new video released by Isis has come just a day after a new group calling itself the Islamic State's Green Brigade took responsibility for a bombing in Yemen that had allegedly killed five Shiite rebels.
In a message on Twitter, the Isis Green Brigade in Yemen claims that it had struck a vehicle of the Houthi rebels in Yarim in the central province of Ibb on Wednesday, AFP reported.
Yemen, which has largely been under al-Qaeda influence, saw the first major Isis attack in the city on 20 March, when the group in multiple suicide bombings targeted Houthis at Shiite mosques in Sanaa, killing 142.