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The terror group ISIS has made a chilling threat against the Vatican just weeks before tens of thousands of faithful gather there to celebrate Christmas.

A pro-ISIS propaganda channel made the threat in a poster depicting a car attack.

The poster - reading "Christmas blood" - depicts a masked jihadi driving a BMW towards St Peter's Basilica, where Pope Francis holds mass.

An assault rifle and a rucksack are visible on the seat next to the driver, who is using a sat nav and driving at high speed.

(Image: AFP)

The poster was published by the pro-ISIS Wafa Media Foundation, according to the Site Intelligence Group, which monitors terrorist activity.

ISIS has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly attacks in Europe this year - including those in Manchester and London.

It has made frequent threats against Pope Francis and the Vatican, especially in the lead-up to big events including Christmas.

(Image: REUTERS)

In December last year, 12 people were killed when an ISIS terrorist killed a lorry driver and ploughed his truck into the Christmas market in Berlin.

The new threat emerged on Tuesday with surviving militants on the run after they were driven out of their strongholds in Iraq and Syria.

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has said the military will continue to fight ISIS "as long as they want to fight".

(Image: REUTERS)

Separate forces backed by the US and Russia are battling to retake the last remaining pockets of ISIS-held territory in Syria.

Mr Mattis said the long-term goal is to prevent the return of an "ISIS 2.0".

He told reporters on Monday: "The enemy hasn't declared that they're done with the area yet, so we'll keep fighting as long as they want to fight."

US-backed forces recently declared victory in the Syrian city of Raqqa, the terror group's largest stronghold in the war-torn country.