Russia Has New Enemy, This Time ISIS; Vows to Dethrone Putin, Liberate Chechnya and the Caucasus

Russia has gained a new enemy, this time the militant group Islamic State.

A video obtained by the Israel National News, an ISIS fighter issued a direct threat to Russian President Vladimir Putin, vowing to oust him. The fighter likewise said they will "liberate" the volatile North Caucasus over his support of the Syrian regime.

Last week, the radical Islamists were finally able to capture a key base in Tabqa in northern Syria despite the heavy defense mounted by government troops Syrian leader Bashar Hafez al-Assad.

Among their captured loot included hangar that housed several antiquated Soviet-made Sukhoi planes. The presence of these planes prompted the Jihadists to issue a chilling message to both leaders.

"This message is addressed to you, oh Vladimir Putin. These are your aircraft which you sent to Bashar, and with the help of Allah we will send them back to you," a militant said in Arabic. Accented Russian voices however can be heard off-camera.

It remains to be seen however if the fighters can indeed manage to operate the captured aircraft, which look old in the video. Reports last week likewise said that all operational aircraft were hastily removed and evacuated from Tabqa before the militants finally captured it.

A second Islamic State fighter said in the same video their group, "with the permission of Allah, we will liberate Chechnya and all the Caucasus. The Islamic State exists and it will exist and it will expand with the help of Allah."

The men on the video further said that they are on their way, presumably to Russia. "Your throne is already shaking. It is in danger and it will collapse when we get to you."

The video was dated Aug 31.

Mr Assad was likewise targeted in the video. The militants urged him to watch out and to look in the skies because they will use the Russian planes to get to him. "Brace yourself for what's coming, you pig."

Ramzan Kadyrov, President of the Chechen Republic, immediately blasted the video and its perpetuators.

"Whoever dares to threaten Russia and say out loud the name of our President Vladimir Putin will be destroyed right where he is... These people will end their days under the hot sun of Syria and Iraq and moments after death they will be greeted by the flames of eternal hell," he wrote on his Facebook page.

The video threat by the ISIS to Messrs Putin and Assad here.