The Libyan port-city of Sirte was once home to almost 100,000 civilians and a thriving maritime shipping industry; however today, it is a painful reminder of what Libya once was and what it turned into after the abdication and death of Mu’ammar Al-Ghaddafi.
On February 16th, the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) seized the birthplace of Mu’ammar Al-Ghaddafi after a week long campaign that ended with the loyalist forces retreating south in order to evade the swarming militants from the aforementioned terrorist group.
The civilians living inside of Sirte have attempted to recapture their city from ISIS on numerous occasions, but the loyalist militias are constantly outmanned and outgunned by the terrorist group’s forces that number in the thousands.
Yesterday, ISIS sealed the fate of Sirte, sending in thousands of reinforcements to turn this port-city into their North African capital.
With Sirte firmly under their control, ISIS has turned their attention to the nearby city of Ajdabiyah and the lucrative oil fields that surround its northern countryside.
Should ISIS capture the Adjabiyah oil fields, the aforementioned terrorist group will control oil wells in three different Arab countries.
Currently, the loyalist forces are on the defense against ISIS and their affiliates; this has prompted the Libyan government to seek assistance from the Arab League in order to forestall the terrorist group’s progress.
However, with the city of Sirte quickly becoming ISIS’ new Mosul and Raqqa; it is very unlikely that the Libyan government will be able quell this threat anytime soon.
