In June 2015, Libyan forces ousted ISIS from the city of Derna, and they finished clearing the last ISIS holdout in the coastal city of Sirte in December 2016. ISIS’ Libyan offshoot is currently led by Abdul Qadr al-Najdi. ISIS militants have been active in the central region of Libya, especially in the areas south of Sirte and the Jufrah region. Now, these fighters are returning home, and there is significant concern that they could join ISIS’ branch in neighboring Libya. Mohamed Eljarh, Non-Resident Fellow, Atlantic Council “Libya’s vast desert and the lawless Sahel region represents a perfect option for the retreat of ISIS militants escaping Syria and Iraq.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 26, 2018 04:52 UTC