Islamic State militants in Libya are learning how to fly commercial jets in large simulators imported from abroad, according to reports from Arabic media.
ISIS is reportedly training pilots in the Libyan city Sirte using large and comprehensive flight simulators, Libyan officials told an Arabic daily Wednesday according to Ynetnews. ISIS has an estimated 3,000 fighters in Libya and has controlled Sirte for several months.
“The simulator is about as large as a small car, and simulates every facet of flight including air-to-ground communications,” the sources said. A group of ISIS commanders reportedly obtained the simulator in October and have at least one other simulator, which they are using to train fighter pilots.
If ISIS strengthens its hold in Sirte, it could gain direct access to the Mediterranean and southern Europe.
“Libyan Air Force planes, that were not sufficiently armed, have previously attempted to destroy at least one ISIS training camp, but the attacks achieved little results,” a security official who was part of a team monitoring ISIS in Northern Africa told the Arabic daily.
A belief the United States is secretly in league with ISIS is widespread in Iraq among both Sunni and Shia groups, the Washington Post reported Tuesday. Many believe that is the only explanation for what they see as a failed U.S. campaign against ISIS.
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