GETTY ISIS militants have captured two key Libyan port towns

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The crazed jihadis have reportedly overrun Libyan rebels in the towns of Bin Jawad and As Sidr as part of an offensive that designed to give the terrorist group access to huge new revenue streams from oil. It brings them within a stone's throw of taking control of the country's lucrative 'Oil Crescent' at a time when its finances have taken a severe battering from Russian and US-led airstrikes.

The twin port towns, some 21 miles apart, act as a key export route for crude oil from the region, including the nearby Ras Lanouf petrol refinery. In a statement posted online this morning ISIS officially claimed victory in Bin Jawad. Supporters of the hate group posted jubilant messages online, claiming the town had been "liberated" from infidel rebels.

Twitter/@Eljarh The evil militants are trying to capture more oil fields in Libya

Twitter/@SimNasr ISIS has been consolidating its position in north Africa

The ease with which the Islamist militants were able to take the towns will deepen concern amongst European leaders about the hold ISIS is taking in northern Africa. While the international effort has concentrated on obliterating the jihadi hate group in Syria it has quietly consolidated its position in Libya, recently boasting that its de fact African capital of Sirte will "rival Raqqa" as a future operations base. Journalist Wassim Nasr reported that ISIS fighters are using car bombs to attack rebels still holding on to parts of As Sidr, having completely overrun Bin Jawad earlier today.

The terror group's latest expansion could heap pressure on Western leaders to intervene in Libya once again, just four years after David Cameron led airstrikes against the Gadaffi regime. It also highlights the folly of what many at the time labelled an ill-thought out act of war, with ISIS having been able to profit from the bloody civil war which followed to establish a foothold on Europe's doorstep. The terrorists took control of the city of Sirte - the birthplace of Colonel Gadaffi - last year and immediately promised to use it as a springboard from which to attack Europe.

The fight against ISIS Fri, November 18, 2016 The battle against ISIS militants (also abbreviated as Daesh, ISIL, IS and Islamic State) continues in the Middle East. Play slideshow Getty 1 of 183 Forces battle against ISIS