Africom Commander warns Algeria against “Daesh” terror group based in Libya

The Commander of US forces in Africa (Africom), General David Rodriguez, has asserted that the terrorist organization, the self-proclaimed “Islamic State in Iraq, Syria or Libya” or “Daesh” “has become a real threat to the States of North Africa.

The US Army General  stressed in this connection that Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, are the front line defense and are called upon to counter the growing nefarious influence of this terrorist organization now operating in Libya in order to ward off any spill-over effect inside their own territories.

The US war against “Daesh” has not yet extended to Libya. But the terror group is rapidly expanding its deleterious presence and activities there, and the embattled government is asking for Washington to include Libya in its international fight against the armed extremists.

Top US intelligence officials have publicly stated their concerns about “Daesh” (ISIS) expansion in North Africa, following the group’s ramping up of its public acts of mayhem. The Africom Commander said that “with affiliates in Algeria, Egypt, Libya, the group is beginning to assemble a growing international footprint that includes ungoverned and under- governed areas.”

“Daesh” expansion in Libya is much worse than what is publicly understood, he said.

“There is an unfortunate state of denial about all of this, and that is the most dangerous thing, he added.”

The “Daesh” terror group has had an operations base in the port city of Derna for years, but has now established a headquarters at the main conference center in Sirte, where it controls the airport. It has also expanded in southern Libya, recruiting and setting up bases, and has held open marches in Tripoli, General David Rodriguez underlined.

“Daesh” has long used Libya as a route for money and other supplies going to the fight against in Syria and as a training base for its fighters headed to Syria and Iraq.  He estimated there are between 2,500 and 3,000 radical fighters in Libya pledging allegiance to “Daesh” terror group.

It should be noted that the Libyan parliament based in Tobruk  recently issued a statement calling on the US-led coalition against “Daesh” in Syria and Iraq to expand its air strikes into Libyan territory.