Daesh plan to take to the seas Nato Naval officer warns

A senior Nato officer has advised that Daesh militants have ambitions to develop a maritime arm to carry out terror attacks in Mediterranean waters.

Vice-Admiral Clive Johnstone told the press that an “uncomfortable shadow” had been cast by them gaining more territory in Libya, including strongholds Tripoli, Misrata and Sirte along on the country´s Mediterranean-facing coast.

The Royal Navy Officer confirmed that militants were changing tack, and that, having acquired more sophisticated weaponry made in Russia and China, they posed a significant risk to the eastern Mediterranean region in particular. 

British and Italy are reported to be seriously considering posting thousands of troops to the area as it becomes increasingly militarised, and, according to Vice-Admiral Johnstone, commercial shipping and cruise routes fall under threat. The presence of the Russian Navy has also increased in the waters, triggering fears that Nato allies will be “hustled out.”

As tensions grow, an “act of random terrorism” in the region would have “extraordinary implications for the Western world” claims the Vice Admiral, who says he is “quietly worried” that an “act that is almost a mistake” will cause the area to collapse into chaos. 

Daesh´s rivals Al Qaeda, are also said to have boasted an impressive naval operation which is said to include anything from fifteen up to 300 vessels, according to who is reporting it.  

Fortunately, their so-called “Prince of the Sea” and chief of naval operations Abdulrahim Mohammed Abda al-Nasheri, who masterminded 2000´s attack on USS Cole in Yemen, killing 17 US military personnel, has been in custody since 2002. Since then he has confessed that Al Qaeda were planning attacks on U.S and British warships in the Mediterranean and in the Straits of Gibraltar.