Beirut band mock Islamic State through song

BEIRUT, Lebanon, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Lebanese citizens fear the advance of the Islamic State as they try to allay their anxiety with satirical performances mocking the militant group.

A Beirut band performs satirical songs mocking the IS "caliph" Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi and his group with lyrics like, "You will lead God's servants to an abyss like no other."

While people laughed and captured video of the band on their phones, it did not completely mask the fear felt in the country's capital. The Islamic State (IS) previously went by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Lebanon is part of the Levant, or greater Syria, causing the country to fear that the group will make it part of its "caliphate."

"The Islamic State is coming" was spray-painted on the sides of churches and a picture was posted online of three Christian boys burning the IS black flag.

Their anxiety is not unfounded after IS militants raided the town of Ersal in August and allegedly beheaded a Lebanese soldier.

"Lebanon's major political communities are all in the power-sharing agreement," Paul Salem, vice president of the Middle East Institute, told Bloomberg News. "The Lebanese army and internal security forces are putting out fires when they emerge. It's not ungoverned space."

IS has been making significant advances in both Syria and Iraq, causing international entities and world leaders to scramble to respond to the growing threat. The mission of IS is to bring all Muslims under one Islamic caliphate.