But don’t worry, Obama has them just where he wants them.

TRIPOLI: Daesh (ISIS) has strengthened its grip in its Libyan stronghold Sirte as new recruits and foreign fighters join its ranks while world attention focuses on Iraq and Syria.

Experts and sources in Libya say Sirte has become a new focal point for the militant group as it comes under increasing pressure in its traditional Iraqi and Syrian power bases.

“It is clear ‘ISIS central’ made an investment on Libya a long time ago,” in a strategy dating back almost two years, said Mattia Toaldo, policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. “Foreign fighters from North Africa are increasingly flocking to Sirte rather than going all the way to Syria.”

Exploiting the chaos in Libya as rival militias and governments battled for power, Daesh seized Sirte in June, beheading and putting on crosses the bodies of militiamen who had been fighting them in the coastal city.

Officials in the army loyal to the internationally recognised authorities in the east say Sirte, the hometown of slain dictator Moammar Gadhafi, has become a destination of choice for new recruits.

“Sirte is now the center … where new recruits are trained and instructed in the ideology of ISIS,” said Mohammad Hijazi, a spokesman for the military led by Gen. Khalifa Haftar.

“Hundreds of foreign fighters have flowed in from Tunisia, Sudan, Yemen and Nigeria to be trained and ready to carry out attacks in other countries,” said an army colonel who spoke on condition of anonymity.