On 17 January, the Libyan National Army (LNA) claimed to have killed the commander of IS’s desert brigades and the head of its “Soldiers and Military Diwan,” Mahdi Rajab Danqou (aka Abu al-Barakat) in al-Shaati. Danqou’s death remains unconfirmed and it has been suggested that he remains at large. Senior al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) member Abdelmonem al-Hasnawi (aka Abu Tallha al-Libi) and an Egyptian named Abdullah al-Dusouki were also reported to have been killed along with Danqou.
On 17 January, the Libyan Red Crescent branch in Misrata called on the Tunisian government to accept six children whose Tunisian parents fought for ISIS in Sirte in 2016. The children’s relatives have been in direct contact with the Red Crescent to facilitate the transfer. In a joint press conference with the Misrata Municipal Council and al-Bunyan al-Marsous forces, the representative of the Red Crescent, Faisal Jalwal, stated that the process had been taxing and unique in its circumstances.
On 17 January, the Libyan National Army (LNA) claimed to have killed senior al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) member Abdelmonem al-Hasnawi (aka Abu Tallha al-Libi) during raids in southern Libya. Al-Hasnawi’s death remains unconfirmed and has been reported on previous occasions, such as in November 2016 following airstrikes. IS-linked al-Mahdi Rajab Danqou (aka Abu al-Barakat), and an Egyptian named Abdullah al-Dusouki were also reported to have been killed in the raid.
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