Spanish Embassy Bombed In Tripoli

On April 21^st a bomb was detonated by the exterior wall of the Spanish embassy in Tripoli by the security gate. No casualties were suffered due to the embassy being abandoned several months ago save for local security guards. The bomb was apparently thrown from a car passing by the embassy. Earlier on April 12^th, Islamic State in Libya launched two embassy bombings in the South Korean and Moroccan embassies. The bomb in the South Korean embassy killed two security guards and wounded one, prompting South Korea to move their embassy personnel elsewhere. The attack on the Moroccan embassy resulted in no casualties either.

Islamic State likewise claimed responsibility for the Spanish embassy bombing. Recently, Islamic State has carried out several high profile terrorist attacks, such as the recent executions of 30 Ethiopian Christians, the beheading of 21 Christians in February, and the Corinthia Hotel attack.

Currently militants in allegiance to the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Libya Dawn government based in Tripoli are engaged in combat with the loyalist forces led by General Khalifa Haftar near Tripoli. As of April 19^th 21 have been killed and dozens more reported wounded. Prolonged conflict between the legitimate Tobruk government and the Libya Dawn rebels may embolden and aid Islamic State in their attempt to establish their own government in Libya. Just as Islamic State has concentrated on al-Nusra Front in Syria, Islamic State has concentrated the bulk of their attacks on Libya Dawn in order to break Libya Dawn’s control and leave Islamic State as the sole Islamist organization of note in Libya. Control of Libya would allow Islamic State to launch planned attacks in Italy.