Isis in Libya and beyond, 2014-2016

Bibliographic Data

ID3979232
AuthorsAndrea Beccaro (0000-0001-5059-6613, SUISS, Scuola Universitaria Interdipartimentale di Scienze Strategiche, University of Turin, Turin, Italy, corresponding author)
Year2022
Volume27
Issue1
Pages160-179
Publication date2022-01-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Journal of North African Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1362-9387 • E-ISSN: 1743-9345
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13629387.2020.1747445
OpenAlexW3014734023
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited15

ISIS (the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) has been a key political and military actor in the Middle East and in North Africa. Although it is currently in retreat, it has conquered, controlled, and ruled areas of Syria, Iraq, and Libya. This essay outlines threats posed by ISIS in Libya and in North Africa. The analysis is divided into three sections. The first section takes into account the hybrid military nature of ISIS. The notion of hybrid warfare describes the way in which non-state actors fight: a mix of traditional infantry tactics using modern weapons; guerrilla operations; and terrorism. The second section focuses on Libya. Over the summer of 2014, Libya collapsed into civil war between duelling governments. This turmoil offered ISIS an opening to set up a bridgehead along the Libyan coast. The role of ISIS is analysed in the context of Libyan political and security chaos, underlining both ISIS's role in the conflict and ISIS's operations in Sirte. The third section takes into account ISIS's operations in the North Africa between 2015 and 2016. The group has proved to be resilient; although the loss of its North African capital was a strategic blow, this has not removed ISIS's ability to execute small-unit raids, and bombings. In conclusion, the paper aims to demonstrate both the hybrid nature of ISIS, which affects various military and political approaches and allows ISIS to withstand classic counterterrorism operations. It also considers ISIS's ability to operate across borders and to exploit local instability

Archaeology · Citizen journalism · Context (archaeology · Guerrilla warfare · Infantry · Insurgency · Islam · Middle East · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Spanish Civil War · State (computer science · Terrorism · European and Russian Geopolitical Military Strategies · Global Peace and Security Dynamics · History · Law · Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence

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