11 missing Libyan jetliners taken by Islamic extremists during an attack on the Tripoli International Airport in Libya last month has been put on the spotlight recently as the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks are nearing. According to the Daily Mail, the 11 missing Libyan jetliners from state-owned carriers Libyan Airlines and Afriqiyah Airways went missing in August because of a group of Islamc militants "Masked Men Brigade" taking hold of the Libya airport.
Even though the attack occurred a over a month ago, reports of the 11 missing Libyan jetliners taken after the airport was the scene of a fierce battle, as described by the Huffington Post UK, are only emerging now. The reports appear as the 13th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington are nearing, and officials fear that another 9/11 kind of terror attacks will be in order.
In late August, Al Jazeera reported that the 11 missing Libyan jetliners were held by the "Masked Men Brigade", who, reports say are also planning to use them in terror attacks.
According to the Daily Mai, U.S. officials fear the 11 missing Libyan jetliners could now be used to against the terrorists' enemies and carry out another 9/11-style of attacks in the region during the 9/11 anniversary next week.
The Libyan terrorists reportedly took photos of themselves posing with some of the 11 missing Libyan jetliners taken from the Tripoli airport, and they have posted these photos online.
Militants from the terrorist group "Libyan Dawn" who took over the airport were seen in the photos climbing on to the wings of the commercial jets while smiling and waving.
According to the Washington Free Beacon, intelligence reports of the 11 missing Libyan jetliners have been distributed within the U.S. government for over two weeks now. U.S. officials familiar with the reports said that the intelligence reports had an additional warning which said one or more of the 11 missing Libyan jetliners may be used in an attack later in the month.
One official also mentioned that the stolen aircraft are a serious counterterrorism concern especially because reports of the terrorist control over the 11 missing Libyan jetliners came three weeks before the 13th anniversary of 9/11 attacks, which, according to multiple reports, was also the second anniversary of the Libyan terrorist attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi.
During the attack in Benghazi, four Americans, one of which was Ambassador Christopher Stevens, were killed. According to the Washington Free Beacon, the Obama administration initially said was result of a spontaneous demonstration against an anti-Muslim video.
While a senior State Department counterterrorism official declined to comment on reports of the 11 missing Libyan jetliners, a second State department official said, "We can't confirm that," downplaying reports.
The Daily Mail reports that officials have been warning for some time now about the big problem over terrorism in Libya. The country was previously controlled by the dictator Muammar Gaddaffi, but he was killed in October 2011, which gave rise to the power of militant groups.
Libya, according to the Washington Free Beacon continues its status as an oil-rich state. If the country is one day completely taken over by Islamist extremists, the result can be devastating. U.S. counterterrorism officials believe the possibility of Libya becoming another terrorist safe haven is high.
Tripoli International Airport had been closed since mid-July and is currently run by two anti-Islamist militias since the attacks. At the end of August, the "Libyan Dawn" has been taking control over it, reports the Daily Mail.
Pictures of the airport takeover's aftermath reportedly show planes completely or partially blasted and others with several littered with bullet holes.
In August, Libya's parliament has declared "Ansar al Sharia" and "Libyan Dawn" as terrorist organizations working to overthrow the government.
Since Gaddaffi left power, Tripoli has reportedly been undergoing one of its most violent series of events. Many of the militias currently against the Libyan parliament are from rebel forces which fought Gaddaffi. After Gaddaffi's reign, they have become powerful, overcoming the region's weak police and military.
On Sunday, it appeared that the Libyan government could not handle the violence any longer as they announced loss of control over the capital of Tripoli.
In a statement, the Libyan government said, "We announce that the majority of the ministries, institutions, and associations in the capital Tripoli are no longer under its control."
A Moroccan military expert named Abderrahmane Mekkaoui told Al Jazeera television that the alert on the 11 missing Libyan jetliners was preventive and covers the region from Cairo to Lagos Nigeria.
The "Masked Men Brigade" which currently holds the 11 missing Libyan jetliners are, according to Mekkaoui, linked to "Al Qaeda" and "Ansar al Sharia", which is the group behind the Benghazi terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2012, and has ties to the group "Islamic State" or "ISIS."
ISIS is the Syrian group currently put on spotlight for releasing videos of beheadings of American journalists Steven Sotloff and James Foley.
According to Mekkaoui, the "credible intelligence" reports given to states in the region indicate the "Masked Men Brigade" could be plotting attacks on the Maghreb state using the 11 missing Libyan jetliners during the 9/11 anniversary, reports the Washington Free Beacon.
Militia groups known as "Al Qaqa" and "Al Sawa" reportedly controlled the airport and all aircraft belonging to Libyan Airlines and Afriqiyah Airways until the "Libya Dawn" takeover.
A counterterrorism specialist named Michael Rubin of the American Enterprise Institute said commercial jetliners in the hands of terrorists can become formidable weapons.
Rubin said, "Who needs ballistic missiles when you have passenger planes? Even empty, but loaded up with fuel they can be as devastating."
He added, "Each plane could, if deployed by terrorists to maximum devastating effect, represent 1,000 civilian casualties."
According to the Washington Free Beacon, potential targets of the 11 missing Libyan jetliners in the hands of the terrorists are urban and economic areas, such as Saudi Arabia's oil fields.
Meanwhile, Egypt's military government is looking into intervening in the country's affairs to restore order.
The U.S. however is reportedly taking on a more conservative role, but will be delivering Apache attack helicopters to Egypt, according to Secretary of State John Kerry said last week.
11 missing Libyan jetliners used for another 9/11 type of terrorist attacks are being prepared for by several governments, since as everybody knows and one official told the Washington Free-Beacon, "There are a number of commercial airliners in Libya that are missing. We found out on September 11 what can happen with hijacked planes."
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
