(VOVworld) – The US military is ready to conduct air strikes targeting the Islamic State (IS) in Syria, but President Barack Obama has not yet signed off on the plan.Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told the House Armed Services Committee on Friday that he and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey have approved an air strikes plan targeting the IS in Syria. The target list will be submitted to President Obama for approval. Hagel noted that the US will not coordinate with Syrian President Bashar Al Assad’s administration but will offer equipment and training to the opposition forces in Syria.

The 3-minute video of British freelance photojournalist John Cantlie.

The IS posted on Youtube a 3-minute video of British freelance photojournalist John Cantlie. In the Arabic subtitled video, Cantlie is wearing an orange outfit, talking to the camera, and no explicit threats are made to his life. The IS previously executed 3 hostages, including 2 American journalists, to retaliate for US air strikes against the group. It also threatened to conduct similar actions against anyone who joins the US-led coalition against the IS.