A video posted on a social media website purported to show rebels declaring an end to the Iraq-Syria border, which was decided by western powers carving up the Ottoman Empire after World War One.
The clip, said to be uploaded on Tuesday (June 10), shows what is said to be rebels from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) on the border between
Iraq and Syria.
They are seen moving large rocks from the road to allow vehicles to cross into what is said to be Syrian territory.
A male voice, speaking in Arabic, is heard saying "Breaking the border of Sykes-Picot. Iraq forever. Allahu Akbar. Allahu Akbar. Thanks God," referring to the lines drawn by western powers to carve up the Ottoman Empire following World War One.
Iraq was created under British mandate after the 1916 Sykes-Picot agreement divided control of much of the Middle East between France and Britain.
France would rule what later became Syria and Lebanon while Britain had a mandate for Mesopotamia, Trans-jordan and Palestine, which, with border changes, later became Iraq, Jordan and Israel.
At a conference in Cairo in 1921 to settle Middle East affairs, King Faisal was nominated to the throne of Iraq.
King Faisal signed an alliance with Britain and agreed to treat all nations equally, to respect freedom of religion and cooperate with the League of Nations.
British influence in Iraq continued until 1958, when a military coup toppled the monarchy.
Another amateur video, said to be filmed and posted online on Wednesday (June 12) purports to show ISIL rebels gathered in the Syrian town of Manbij, in rural Aleppo, to celebrate the victory of the ISIL in Iraq.
The video shows men on motorbikes and in cars gathered in the street, along with what is said to be rebels carrying the ISIL flag.
Sporadic audio of gunfire can be heard in the background.
A male voice speaks over the video and says, "We are celebrating because our brothers in Iraq, they took over Mosul, we are celebrating today. It's a very beautiful scene."
"You can see it's beautiful, all the brothers are here, we are celebrating," he continues.
The al Qaeda splinter group seized control of the Iraqi city of Mosul on Tuesday, putting security forces to flight in a spectacular show of strength against the Shi'ite-led Baghdad government.
Reuters is unable to independently verify the content of either of the amateur videos, which have been obtained from a social media website.
REUTERS