The beheading of Egyptian Coptic Christians in Libya adds a new dimension to the fight against the terror group. In response to the massacre, Egyptian warplanes joined the airstrike campaign against ISIS, targeting bases in Libya. According to some experts, this move will have far-reaching effects. MIT terrorism expert Stephen Van Evera told CTV's Canada AM Tuesday morning that ISIS is extending its presence in Yemen, Libya, the Sinai, Lebanon, and Jordan. “We see spread happening.”
Libya
There is a vacuum of leadership in Libya, with several governments vying for control. The chaos has allowed ISIS to "spread their tentacles and occupy centres,” Brig.-Gen. (Ret.d) Don Macnamara told CTV News Channel on Monday. ISIS is spreading beyond Iraq and Syria, creating new bases across North Africa. “Many jihadists in North Africa, particularly in Libya, are now switching to ISIS,” Walid Phares, middle east adviser to the U.S. Congress, told CTV News Channel Monday. He cautions that estimates in the international community say up to 24,000 people will be joining ISIS in the next few months.
Egypt
Egypt is the most populous Muslim country in the Middle East, and also one embroiled in political turmoil. There is a deep division within the country, pitting the Muslim Brotherhood and its supporters against the army and President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Van Evera told CTV that "Egypt is the big prize. This conflict was aimed at causing division in Egypt, exploiting the division that already exists between the army and the Brotherhood."
Bringing Egypt into the mix also draws Russia into the conflict, according to Macnamara. Russia has been supplying Egypt with weapons, a relationship that might be ramped up should Egypt’s military take on a bigger role in the fight against ISIS.
Italy
ISIS in Libya poses a threat to Italy, whose southern tip lies only 800 km away. In a video showing the killings, one of the militants boasted the group plans to "conquer Rome." Italian officials are voicing their concern, saying they are ready to participate in a military intervention to prevent ISIS from advancing in Libya. Italy is also a NATO country, and an attack on Italy could mean other NATO members are forced to act. There is also a growing refugee problem to take into account. “Italy has had to face refugees from Africa for some time, and these kind of events will only make it worse for them,” says Macnamara, warning that this could have a widening effect across the region.
With files from the Associated Press
