ISIS issued a thinly veiled threat to the U.S. late Tuesday, releasing a Hollywood-style trailer that appears to warn of attacks against American forces in light of President Barack Obama’s pledge to “degrade and destroy” the terror group. The 52-second clip – the latest in a long line of well-produced propaganda videos - features slow-motion explosions and clips of attacks previously carried out against U.S. forces, including one of American soldiers carrying a wounded serviceman. Images of Obama and then the White House at dark flicker and flames appear to engulf U.S. troops. “Flames of War: Fighting Has Just Begun” flashes on the screen, before it ends with the words “Coming Soon.”

"It appears to be officially declaring war on the U.S.," according to Laith Alkhouri, a senior analyst at New York-based intelligence consulting firm Flashpoint Global Partners. President Barack Obama has stressed that there will be no American combat troops in Iraq, but on Tuesday his top military adviser clouded the message by saying he might recommend just that if it becomes clear that current measures are not working.

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- Cassandra Vinograd