A Canadian citizen who produced and voiced propaganda videos for the Islamic State (IS) has been sentenced to life in prison by a US court.
Mohammed Khalifa, of Saudi origin, was convicted of conspiring to provide material assistance to the group.
According to the US Department of Justice, Khalifa, 39, was a “formidable figure” inside IS and was personally responsible for the deaths of two captured Syrian troops.
In 2017, Iraqi forces and a US-led coalition crushed IS.
However, the group is still present in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan, as well as the Horn of Africa and West Africa.
US authorities allege that Khalifa provided the English-language voiceover for 15 propaganda movies glorifying gruesome murders to encourage assaults and attract new members.
Khalifa, who was raised in Toronto, traveled to Syria in the spring of 2013 and joined IS in November of the same year. Until late 2018, he worked within the IS media operation.
Alone in 2014, the unit produced beheading films of American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff and British relief workers Alan Henning and David Haines.
In January 2019, Khalifa was captured in Syria by the US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Armed with three grenades and an AK-47, he attacked an SDF position in Abu Badran, Syria, alone, according to the US Department of Justice.
He hurled one grenade at SDF soldiers on the compound’s roof before rushing inside and engaging a soldier in a battle on the stairs.
Khalifa discharged the majority of his ammunition before his AK-47 jammed, at which point he surrendered.
Later, he was turned up to the FBI.
In December of last year, Khalifa pled guilty to the terrorism charges.
