The Islamic State is an increasingly menacing threat to the Middle East, and the extremist group uses brutal tactics and propaganda to instill fear in its enemies.

And now the group has threatened to raise its flag over the White House, according to a Vice documentary published on the same day that U.S. President Barack Obama authorized airstrikes on ISIS militants in Iraq if U.S. personnel were threatened.

The Vice News documentary, part one of five on the well-armed and battle-hardened group of extremists rampaging through northern Syria and Iraq, provides an unprecedented look at Islamic State fighters and converts in their de facto capital of Raqqa in Syria.

Violence is their creed. Vice News ISIS has been recruiting young Syrians for years now. Vice News ISIS is fighting remnants of the Assad regime in Raqqa (while selling it oil elsewhere). Vice News And now that the U.S. has conducted air strikes on ISIS positions, the fight is on. Vice News Islamic State "Caliph" Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi made his first appearance in June. Vice News

It's a must watch, given the circumstances: