Terror threat

Islamic State consolidation in Libya part of regional strategy aimed at alleviating pressure on 'caliphate'

The Islamic State has suddenly accelerated its efforts in December to expand its presence in Libya. IHS assesses that this attempt is part of the group's regional strategy aimed at alleviating pressure on the 'caliphate' in Syria and Iraq.

The Libyan National Army (LNA), led by General Haftar, started an offensive in Ajdabiya on 11 December with the objective of expelling the Islamic State and other jihadist groups from the city. The group is not fully in control of Ajdabiya but since October it has gradually expanded its presence there, carrying out a series of improvised explosive device (IED) attacks against security targets and a series of assassinations targeting individuals affiliated with the LNA and civil society figures.