On 11 March, the Libyan National Army (LNA) spokesperson announced that the Sirte Operations Room had killed three IS leaders fleeing Derna. The spokesperson added that IS elements were reported to be moving in the areas south of Sirte, Bani Walid, and Sidra.
On 8 March, a suicide vehicle borne improved explosive device (SVBIED) attacked a checkpoint south east of Ajdabiya controlled by the LNA’s 152 infantry brigade. Two Sudanese civilians and one LNA fighter were reportedly wounded. On 10 March, IS claimed responsibility for the attack.
On 11 March, it was reported that Saudi Arabia had handed over to the Libyan National Army (LNA) two alleged al-Qaeda members accused of abducting five Egyptian diplomats in Tripoli in 2014. The two suspects, Mahmoud bin Rajab and Muhammad al-Khadraoui, were arrested in June 2017 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The LNA has said they will be investigated and put on trial.
A weekly update of ISIS’s actions, the Western response, and developments pertaining to Libya’s other militias is available by subscribing here. To read about Western countries’ responses to ISIS in Libya this week, click here, and to read about the developments within the anti-ISIS Coalition of Libyan militias, click here. To read all four sections of this week’s Eye on ISIS in Libya report, click here.
