IS helmet cam footage reveals terrorist fighters as frightened, disorganised rabble
Their propaganda paints a picture of a ruthless, well-trained and effective fighting outfit.
But the battlefield reality for Islamic State foot soldiers appears much different.
Helmet cam footage obtained by Vice News reveals life on the frontline for IS fighters is a chaotic and disorganised struggle to stay alive and manage the basics of modern combat.
A fighter called Abu Hajaar features prominently as his colleagues, apparently frustrated with his abilities, repeatedly scream orders, reprimanding him for putting them in danger.
The footage reportedly came from a helmet mounted camera found on the body of a dead Islamic State fighter who fought in losing battle against Kurdish pashmerga troops near Mosul, Iraq, in March.
Travelling in an improvised, open topped armoured vehicle, the would-be soldiers appear to be as much a threat to each other as they are their enemies.
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They struggle to load and sometimes even find their weapons. When they are able to open fire on opposition soldiers, they shower each other with bullet casings or risk burning their comrades with rocket launchers.
When a Kurdish rocket inevitably strikes their vehicle, one fighter can be heard desperately declaring he cannot find his gun.
Shortly before hand they struggle to load an improvised grenade launcher. They struggle again with shaking hands to light the fuse on the bomb they intend to launch.
The video ends as one militant yells to his comrades he has been shot, as the unit appears to disintegrate under enemy fire.
The revealing video also shows an anxious and fearful approach to battle as the group prepares to travel to the battlefield.
They are shown farewelling a suicide bomber before setting out themselves.
The exchange shows a conspicuous absence of the bravado that has become the hallmark of the propaganda videos ISIS has used to rally supporters around the world.
