A Masked Islamic State Militant Holding A Knife Speaks Next To Man Purported To Be U.S. Journalist James Foley At An Unknown Location In This Still Image From An Undated Video Posted On A Social Media Website
A masked Islamic State militant holding a knife speaks next to man purported to be U.S. journalist James Foley at an unknown location in this still image from an undated video posted on a social media website. REUTERS/Social Media Website v

Videos of British and American hostages being beheaded by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria militants are reportedly motivating potential recruits who are excited by the idea of fighting the West. According to a Guardian report, social media activity of ISIS suggests foreign jihadists are eager to join the group.

Barbaric footage of hostages being killed like the recent video of British aid worker David Haines has been "turning on" jihadist wannabes from countries in Libya and Tunisia. Evidence of such devotion to ISIS can be found in several social media sites. About 450 foreign jihadists in Syria and Iraq have social media accounts. They also have many followers supporting their actions.

ISIS videos attacking London and Washington may have attracted more extremist "fans" abroad and made the group's cause more glamourous, according to the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation at King's College London.

The response to the ISIS videos may also explain the reason why militant groups have decided to release the footage threatening the life of another British hostage, Alan Henning. Reports suggest ISIS uses the videos to lure supporters and gain more followers.

ICSR director Peter Neumann said the people the social media followers of ISIS are excited by the killings. He said ISIS supporters in Libya and Tunisia are turned on by the idea of fighting American and British "enemies."

The man who beheaded Haines in the video was born in Yorkshire but raised in Scotland. He addressed British Prime Minister David Cameron and called him an "obedient lapdog" of Washington. The masked man said Mr Cameron's "evil alliance with America" will hasten Britain's destruction.

Reports said over 2,000 people from Libya and Tunisia are believed to be fighting alongside ISIS. Turkey has been named as the extremist group's steady source of recruits. According to Turkish media reports, as much as 1,000 Turks have joined the ranks of ISIS due to the group's appeal to discontented youth. Foreign recruits also look forward to getting paid by ISIS and its deep pockets.

World leaders have vowed to do whatever it takes to defeat ISIS in a meeting of 24 countries in Paris. Efforts to create an international coalition against the extremist group have been intensified with France conducting reconnaissance flights over Iraq as a sign of its support.

(Source: YouTube/YouFaceNews)

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