ISIS release second video of hostage John Cantlie

The next instalment in a series of "programmes" from the mlitant group Islamic State (IS) featuring British hostage John Cantlie was released today.

The video, which follows a clip of Cantlie released on Thursday, was posted shortly after the United States announced it had launched the first air strikes on IS in Syria.

Entitled 'Lend me your ears – and Messages From The British Detainee John Cantlie: Episode 1', it is similar in style to the last Cantlie video, mimicking a news report or lecture.

In the video which is almost six minutes long, the journalist and photographer describes the American response to IS as "Gulf War III".

"Not since Vietnam have we witnessed such a potential mess in the making," Cantlie says.

In last week's video, Cantlie said there would be a series of videos posted, in which he would offer an alternative explanation for his captors' actions to the one being given by Western states.

Cantlie says in the latest video that Western nations have under estimated the power and growth of IS. "Current estimates of 15,000 troops needed to fight the Islamic State are laughably low. The State has more mujahideen than this," he says.

"And this is not some undisciplined outfit with a few Kalashnikovs," he adds.

There are thought to be as many as 31,000 IS fighters in Iraq and Syria, where they are trying to create a caliphate.

The video appears to have been recorded before the American strikes on Syria began, possibly at the same time the previous clip was filmed.

Cantlie says, as before, that he has been abandoned by his own government, and describes himself as "a long-term prisoner of the Islamic State."

He was first kidnapped by IS in Syria in July 2012. He escaped with the help of the Free Syrian Army but was detained again at the end of 2012, and has been held hostage for the past 22 months.

News
Darlington nurse describes brave stand for biological reality in US speech
Darlington nurse describes brave stand for biological reality in US speech

The NHS has been "ideologically captured" by transgenderism, nurse Bethany Hutchison said at an event on Capitol Hill in Washington DC.

Scots families send clear signal to government over home education
Scots families send clear signal to government over home education

Proposals could disproportionately impact children with special needs or disabilities.

Is New Zealand experiencing its own 'Quiet Revival'?
Is New Zealand experiencing its own 'Quiet Revival'?

The so-called “Quiet Revival” report by the Bible Society noting an upsurge in Christianity among young people in the U.K. is also seen to an extent among young New Zealanders, according to a report by Baptists. 

Worship leader Ron Kenoly dies at 81
Worship leader Ron Kenoly dies at 81

Ron Kenoly, a pioneering Christian worship leader whose anthems helped shape modern praise music and whose ministry emphasized worship as service rather than performance, has died. He was 81.