A car bomb exploded outside the French Embassy in Libya on April 23, at 7 a.m. The early morning blast left no one dead, but tore apart the front of the embassy, jolting Libya back into the headlines. It was the first significant terrorist attack on a foreign country within Libya since the Benghazi attack on Sept. 11, 2012. The Benghazi attack left U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other American servicemen dead.

Now, over seven months later, this latest attack on an embassy in Tripoli, Libya’s capital, draws attention to the battle raging in northern Africa between Europe and radical Islamic forces from the Middle East.

The explosion that tore apart the front of the French Embassy is not coincidental. In January, France sent troops to Mali in what is purported to be an attempt to stem the rise of al-Qaeda-linked rebels in the nation. Islamic militants had seized control of the northern regions of the country. They were threatening to take Bamako, the capital of Mali.

France launched a serious ground and air offensive in support of the embattled Malian government. The fighting has dwindled, but according to French President Francois Hollande, at least 1,000 French troops will remain in the country until the end of 2013 to assist with the United Nations peacekeeping operation.

The French will not be the only ones leaving soldiers in Mali. German Chancellor Angela Merkel approved 330 German military personnel to remain in Mali as part of a larger EU task force. The plan is to train up the Malian Army to effectively combat the rising terrorist threats coming from northern Africa.

Mali’s northern neighbor Algeria is becoming increasingly unstable too. The massacre at the oil refinery which began on January 16 was a second spike in violence for northern Africa in 2013, following on the heels of the French intervention in Mali.

The hostage crisis left 37 foreigners and 11 Algerian workers dead, and showed the willingness of Islamic forces to counter moves by Europe to intercede in northern Africa. As Europe moves to stop the spread of radical Islam, the terrorists are pushing back.

The terrorists stirring up contention in Africa are receiving aid and support from the east. Since the fall of Muammar Qadhafi, Libya has become a place of protection for terrorists. Terrorists fleeing from Mali have found refuge there. One such group is “al Qaeda in Mali.” According to journalist Jamie Dettmer, “Libyan jihadist groups have been undergoing a reconfiguration, with more of them coming under the direct sway of [al Qaeda in Mali]. One Libyan intelligence source likens it to a swarm of bees.”

Looking at the situation today, it appears as if Europe has taken the upper hand in Mali, but the terrorists have only been driven out. The terrorists still have plenty of safety in Libya, where there is little influence from the local authorities or outside forces.

To effectively stop bombings, hostage crises, and the threat of governments being overthrown by radical Islam, Europe will need to start dealing more directly with the cause of the problem.

So long as Iran can funnel weapons and aid to terrorists in northern Africa, the attacks will not dissipate. If Europe wants to defeat terrorism in Africa, it will also have to defeat it in the Middle East.

This outcome is inevitable. Daniel 11:40 speaks of a whirlwind attack by Europe—the prophesied king of the north—against Iran—the king of the south. Iran will have its allies across North Africa and the Middle East, just as the German-led Europe will have its own allies in Europe and the Middle East. Europe will stop the terrorist attacks throughout the Middle East. The world will breathe a sigh of relief for the peace it will envision. Unfortunately, Europe will not stop with Iran and its allies. It has its eyes on a far greater prize.

The Trumpet is warning of a double cross that will dumbfound the world. Europe is not the peacekeeper that it will appear to be. North Africa and the Middle East are only the beginning. This is all prophesied in your Bible. You can avoid being caught unawares as so many will be. Read History and Prophecy of the Middle East to grasp what is coming soon on this world, starting in the Middle East.