One of the major milestones of the islamic state s official presence in libya came immediately after the islamic youth shura council, a militant group that had been in control of derna, declared allegiance to abu bakr albaghdadi, the leader of is in iraq and syria, and to ansar alsharia in derna, in october 2014. The islamic state has built up an external operations network with a hub on libyan soil and spokes connecting it to nodes of islamic state supporters within the libyan and tunisian diaspora in europe. The islamic state of libya isnt much of a state foreign. The origins and evolution of isis in libya atlantic. It argues that both countries offer is opportunities for expansion, but the growth of is egyptian and libyan wilayats is. Libya war islw is set in a near future scenario, late in this decade, where the libyan and tunisian states have collapsed into civil war, pitting radical islamists versus nationalist forces, with most radical islamists pledging loyalty to the islamic state is after the arrival of welltrained, elite is cadres from iraq and syria.
The chaotic civil war is giving the caliphate a foothold in north africa, and its enemies cant figure out whether to kill the jihadists or use. This statement is based on publicly available information about islamic state in libya is libya. The spread of islamic state libyas new agony middle east. The islamic state is, also known as isis or isil, is a salafijihadist militant organization whose goal is the establishment and expansion of a caliphate in iraq and syria and the creation of a global islamist movement. Islamic state operatives are believed to have arrived in libya as early as last summer around the same time the groups fighters. While much is still unknown about the reach of the network, the group has been linked to a series of major terrorist attacks and. This fits into a larger regional dynamic, where isis.
The islamic state of iraq and the levant is a militant islamist group active in libya under three branches. How much of a threat is the islamic state in libya. An iraqi who was sent to libya to lead the groups affiliate there may have been killed in an airstrike in the north african. During the last two years, the group has been able to reset, moving through recovery, reorganization, and now re. The origins and evolution of isis in libya atlantic council. The islamic state is, or isis or isil in libya controls the coastal strip around the central city, sirte, from buayrat al hasun to bin jawad and down south to the vicinity of the jufra oasis. O europol public information assessing the islamic state in libya the current situation in libya and its implications for the terrorism threat in europe author inga kristina trauthig this paper was presented at the 3rd conference of the european counter terrorism centre ectc advisory network on terrorism and propaganda. Apr 27, 2017 this chapter evaluates the historical factors and political processes that led to the formation and expansion of islamic state in libya. Estimates of the islamic states military strength differ wildly. The expulsion of the islamic state is from sirte and benghazi during the past year does not entail either the end of abu bakr albaghdadis terrorist organization in libya, nor the end of jihadist terrorism in the country overall. The paper looks at isis campaigns in egypt and libya and the evolution of the caliphates wilayat or provinces policy. While the islamic state has intensified its activity in recent weeks, its spread into libya began early.
Assessing the islamic state in libya the current situation in libya and its implications for the terrorism threat in europe author inga kristina trauthig this paper was presented at the 3rd conference of the european counter terrorism centre ectc advisory network on terrorism and propaganda, 910 april 2019, at europol s headquarters in the. Dec 11, 2019 the experts said counterterrorism operations in libya against islamic state and al qaeda extremists by the government and mr. Abstract libya is the islamic states third largest stronghold after syria and iraq. Group type the alqaeda clandestine network is certainly a jihadist group, committed to the ideology of alqaeda and its objectives of establishing an islamic state in libya and eradicating western influence in the muslim world in general and in libya in. When the islamic state came to libya carnegie endowment.
The origins and evolution of isis in libya given the rich history of jihadist activities in libya over the past six years, retracing and investigating the origins and trajectory of the islamic state of iraq and alsham isis and other extremist actors presents actionable. Bughrein, libya at first, the islamic state fighters confined themselves to charity work, holding contests for koranic recitation and distributing money to help locals marry. In libya, islamic state seeks revival in gateway to europe small cells of fighters are operating in the country a year after the group lost its main libyan stronghold. There are a broad array of other jihadist groups already in libya that are fighting against islamic state. Relations with the islamic world analysis paper no. Groups that focus on territorial control, such as ansar alshariah and isis, deliberately disrupt state infrastructure in order to peddle their own goods and services. When he made the pledge to abu bakr albaghdadi, the socalled caliph of the islamic state, ahmed had hardly expected this. Earlier this month, aref ali nayed libyas ambassador to the uae and former lead coordinator of the libya stabilization team visited washington to address the islamic stateisis presence in his country. The report, titled the islamic states expansion in libya, says libyas exambassador to the emirates aref ali nayed is worried that if washington does not act, is will use libya to threaten. The group is also present in training camps to the south of sabratha. Nov 14, 2015 the islamic states flag is seen in an area of northern iraq. Foreign designations and listings, community relations, relations with other groups, state sponsors and external influences.
Selecting a new strategy for iraq and syria against is emirates in such places as egypt, libya, afghanistan, and elsewhere must also be addressed. Islamic state of iraq and the levant in libya wikipedia. Library of congress federal research division alqaeda in libya. Isis has also established a small branch in algeria and connected with jihadists in tunisia. Pdf islamic state challenge in egypt and libya anthony. Militants of socalled islamic state are on the verge of being ousted completely from their stronghold in libyas central coastal city of sirte. Jan 19, 2017 the defense department announced today that the us bombed two islamic state camps 28 miles southwest of sirte last night. If nothing is done to stop the islamic states expansion in libya, it could become a problem on a scale similar to that which it poses in syria but much closer to europe. This chapter evaluates the historical factors and political processes that led to the formation and expansion of islamic state in libya. But just how powerful is the islamic states libyan franchise. The islamic states expansion in libya the washington. A key reason for this weakness is the coalitions focus on limited mili.
The islamic state in libya the red team analysis society. The precision airstrikes are the first american bombing missions in libya since dec. The islamic states strength is largely a consequence of the policies and weaknesses of its state adversaries. The islamic state in iraq and the levant libya was listed on 4 march 2020 pursuant to paragraphs 2 and 4 of resolution 2368 2017 as being associated with isil for participating in the. The limits of the islamic state in libya crisis group. Aug 27, 2016 militants of socalled islamic state are on the verge of being ousted completely from their stronghold in libyas central coastal city of sirte. Us bombs 2 islamic state camps south of sirte, libya fdds. The libya wilaya province of the islamic state has reestablished itself by consolidating its logistical bases in southern libya from where it is likely to plan a new terrorist campaign against forces loyal to the two libyan rival governments.
In benghazi the battlehardened jihadists are part of the backbone of the resistance against general heftars operation dignity. While much is still unknown about the reach of the network, the group has been linked to a series of major continued. On monday egyptian planes struck suspected islamic state targets in eastern libya, after the group released a video showing the execution of 21 egyptian christians kidnapped in sirte. The islamic state is has wreaked havoc in the middle east, seizing vast areas of iraq and syria and now it is taking advantage of libya s collapse into anarchy, writes the bbcs farouk chothia. The experts said counterterrorism operations in libya against islamic state and al qaeda extremists by the government and mr. The islamic states revitalization in libya and its post. The report starts by briefly outlining the history of islamic state in libya. The selfproclaimed islamic state is a militant sunni movement that has conquered territory in western iraq, eastern syria, and libya, from which it has tried to establish the caliphate, claiming. Militants allied to islamic state is have claimed responsibility for several recent attacks in libya but it is not clear how much power is actually wields, writes the bbcs rana jawad. Importantly, the document, which has remained until now, untranslated in its arabiclanguage form, is not something for a western audience. Mar 02, 2015 is libya the next stronghold of the islamic state. Proislamic state militants seize libyan university.
One of the major milestones of the islamic states official presence in libya came immediately after the islamic youth shura council, a militant group that had been in control of derna, declared allegiance to abu bakr albaghdadi, the leader of is in iraq and syria, and to ansar alsharia in derna, in october 2014. The limits of the islamic state in libya in this documentary, crisis groups gazzini argues that the internal division of the many libyan factions can only be solved by stopping the arms and economic supply to the actors involved and pushing the peace talks forward. Islamic state in libya islibya australian national. The coming battle for sirte to defeat the islamic state in libya is principally seen from the perspective of the struggle between the u. To the australian governments knowledge, this information is accurate, reliable and has been corroborated by classified information. Islamic state advances in libya washington free beacon.
Following its territorial loss of sirte in december 2016, the islamic state in libya has rebounded to wage a war of attrition that seeks to derail libyan state formation. The day after islamic state is beheaded 21 egyptian copts in libya, egypts air force swooped across the border to bomb derna, a hotbed of jihadists in libyas. Their presence there is a major pillar of their transnational caliphate doctrine, the existence and legitimacy of which cannot possibly be dependent only on its acceptance in the levant. In libya, the islamic states black banner rises by the. If the recommended strategy in this report is accepted and applied, is emirates. Libyas security vacuum is the single largest enabler of salafijihadi activity. We tell the islamic state guys, westerners in libya who buy our oil are people protected by an ahd, or islamic covenant, he said. Importantly, the document, which has remained until now, untranslated in its arabiclanguage form, is not something for a western.
Instead, is in libya appears to be undergoing a phase of reorganization. How much support does the islamic state have in libya. Then, it analyses data collected on is in libya in 2018 and 2019 in order to assess the groups strength in the country. They also could have retreated to other african nations, or further abroad to the islamic states heartland in iraq and syria, wrote thomas joscelyn of the foundation for defense of democracies. The creation of a new islamic state in libya poses significant challenges to the current leadership of the jihadist organization, but also offers some significant opportunities. Islamic state rises in libya washington free beacon. In libya, islamic state seeks revival in gateway to europe. By november 2017 the group was considered effectively defeated. Mar 29, 2017 over the past three years, north africa has witnessed the rise of the islamic state isis isil, most notably in libyas sirte city, and to a lesser extent in the cities of darna and benghazi in northeastern libya. The united nations estimates that the group commands 2,000 to 3,000 fighters there, u. To read a fully sourced version of this article with footnote citations for the numerous quotes from isis supporters, download the pdf.
By killing too many people and brutally crushing resistance, isis first lost derna and in december 2016, lost sirte. Lasting and expanding the islamic states strategic objectives revolve around the acquisition of money, resources, and power. Originally an affiliate of alqaeda, isil declared the establishment of a caliphate amid significant territorial gains in 2014. Islamic state in libya islibya australian national security. Islamic state in iraq and the levant isil, transnational insurgent group based in western iraq and eastern syria.
The islamic state s revitalization in libya and its post. The islamic state terrorist group is expanding its operations in libya with highprofile attacks following the recent beheadings of 21 christians, according to a state department security report. The rise of violent libyan islamist groups precedes the fall. The islamic states revitalization in libya and its post2016. In fear that libya could become the satellite of the islamic state, egypts air force, joined by the libyan air force, with the support of saudi arabia, bombed the islamic state targets inside. He said that today there are about 1,000 to 3,000 fighters loyal to the islamic state in libya, many of whom have returned home with. During the last two years, the group has been able to reset, moving through recovery, reorganization, and now reengagement phases. While some debate the groups true extent in libya, isis has aggressively expanded its physical and media presence to intimidate its foes, coopt other jihadist groups, and attract recruits. The islamic state is has wreaked havoc in the middle east, seizing vast areas of iraq and syria and now it is taking advantage of libyas collapse into anarchy, writes the bbcs farouk chothia. Islamist parties and militias are often as hostile to each other as they are to nonislamists.
It then examines the aspects that draw is to libya specifically, as well as its overall agenda. When the islamic state came to libya carnegie endowment for. Hifters forces, and an increase in activity by the united states. The saga of libyan islamists 3 united states, where members established the islamic group libya in 1980 and issued their magazine the muslim. Recent attacks in libya by the socalled islamic state, including the brutal slaughter of egyptian copts, the corinthia hotel attacks, car bombings in qubbah that killed at least 45 people, and an attack on the iranian embassy, have brought the spread of extremism in libya to the forefront.
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