Terrorists of the dreaded Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) are setting up their new headquarters along Libya's Mediterranean coast after air strikes from the West wreaked havoc in their Syrian stronghold of Raqqa, a report in the Daily Star has claimed.
As per the report, the barbaric group has been running training camps for international extremists from Sirte after coalition forces slammed its stronghold in Raqqa. ISIS jihadis have niow established their new base in Sirte, the former home of Colonel Gaddafi, just a few hours across the Mediterranean from Italy.
The base in Sirte has evolved into an actively managed colony and it is the only arm of ISIS which its central leadership controls. Forces from the US and UK have been deployed in Libya following the capture of a 200 km stretch of the coast by ISIS.
"Sirte will be no less than Raqqa" is the new slogan adopted by leaders, purportedly reflecting Sirte's heightened profile within the savage organisation. As per reports, the terror group has witnessed a rapid growth in strength in its new stronghold - from 200 to 5,000 fighters since the branch was announced.
The group is also reported to have stopped insisting Muslims travelling to Syria to join its caliphate and is instead suggesting recruits go to Libya instead. According to a civil engineer who recently fled the city, "Sirte has gone dark."
