Islamic State works together with Egyptian terror groups

The Islamic State, which already has a large presence of international fighters and strong allure abroad, has begun to export its tactics and techniques, teaching Islamist radicals in Egypt how to carry out terrorist attacks.

Reuters reports that the Islamic State has been in contact with Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, a terrorist group based in the Sinai Peninsula, a largely lawless desert region that abuts Israel and the Gaza Strip. Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis has claimed responsibility fordozens of deadly attacks on Egyptian police and military personnel.

Reuters cites a senior commander in the organization who said that the Islamic State does not provide weapons or men, but training and tactics. He said that the Islamic State taught them how to make five-person terrorist cells where only one person is able to contact each cell.

The commander said the groups communicate with each other using the Internet.

It appears as if one of the tactics Ansar Bayit al-Maqdis have borrowed from their Islamic State allies is the practice of beheading. Reuters says that four beheaded bodies were found in the Sinai recently. Ansar Bayit al-Maqdis claimed responsibility for the killings and said they were retribution against people who had provided the Israeli government with information to carry out an airstrike. The airstrike killed three of the radical Islamists.

Like the Islamic State, Ansar Bayit al-Maqdis also felt it was necessary to upload videos of the killing to various social media platforms, according to Reuters.

A security official told Reuters that Ansar Bayit al-Maqdis and the Islamic State are also coordinating with and supporting radical jihadist groups in Libya, on Egypt's western frontier.

Egypt has recently tried to influence events in Libya by allowing the United Arab Emirates to launch airstrikes on Islamist positions from Egyptian air bases.