In the wake of the Paris terror attacks, the Islamic State threatened similar attacks on the United States and other countries, particularly singling out the U.S. capital.
Reuters reported that the Islamic State released a video online Monday that warned of attacks on Washington, D.C., and other countries participating in the U.S.-led coalition launching air strikes against the terrorist group in the Middle East.
"We say to the states that take part in the crusader campaign that, by God, you will have a day, God willing, like France’s and by God, as we struck France in the center of its abode in Paris, then we swear that we will strike America at its center in Washington," a man identified as "Al Ghareeb the Algerian" said in the video, which has not been officially verified.
The video message also includes footage of the aftermath of the gun attacks and suicide bombings in Paris, which killed at least 129 people and wounded over 350 others Friday.
The video, allegedly produced by IS militants operating in the Saladin Governorate of Iraq, also warned of further attacks in Europe.
"I say to the European countries that we are coming, coming with booby traps and explosives, coming with explosive belts and [gun] silencers and you will be unable to stop us because today we are much stronger than before," the man in the video stated.
After the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks on Paris, France stepped up airstrikes against the terrorist group on its stronghold in Raqqa, Syria. France has been part of the U.S.-led coalition bombing the terror group, which has been launching airstrikes on the group for more than a year.
In the wake of the Paris attacks, President Obama plans to increase airstrikes and other actions against the Islamic State that the U.S. has already undertaken, senior administration officials said. However, Obama remains opposed to sending substantial U.S. troops on the ground to fight the terror group in Iraq and Syria.
"We don’t believe U.S. troops are the answer to the problem," White House deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said Sunday. "The further introduction of U.S. troops to fully re-engage in ground combat in the Middle East is not the way to deal with this challenge."