Eye On Jihadis in Libya Weekly Update: May 8

On 2 May, Islamic State (IS) fighters attacked the High National Election Commission Office (HNEC) building in the Ghout al-Shaal area of Tripoli at 10:10 local time. Following a brief shootout with security guards, two assailants detonated explosive vests. As many as 16 people were killed and more than 19 were injured. Soon after the incident IS claimed responsibility for the attack and identified the attackers as Abu Ayoub and Abu Tawfik.
On 5 May, IS’s al-Naba’ online newsletter claimed that fighters from the group undertook two attacks on the Libyan National Army in the Wahat province, in late April.
On 8 May, IS undertook an SVBIED attack on an LNA controlled checkpoint near Bin Jawwad, 70 km from Ras Lanuf, killing two and injuring four.


Other Jihadi Actors

On 1 May, factions in Misrata eulogised the former leader of the Benghazi Revolutionaries Shura Council (BRSC), Wissam Bin Hamid, after news of his death was officially announced by his family. He was reportedly killed on 10 December 10, 2016.

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.
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