____________
Source: Telegram
To inquire about a translation for this video message for a fee email: [email protected]
On 28 February, IS published its al-Naba newsletter no. 171, which featured an article titled “The fate of Sirte is not the fate Derna.” The article is critical of the al-Qaeda aligned groups who occupied Derna along with IS till the latter was expelled from the city in July 2015.
On 26 February, al-Qaeda affiliated armed groups mobilized 130km east of Misrata according to Libyan National Army (LNA) spokesperson, Ahmed al-Mesmari. Al-Mesmari claimed the LNA’s Air Force would undertake strikes on their positions.A weekly update of IS’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 IS in Libya this week, click here, and to read about the developments within the anti-IS Coalition of Libyan militias, click here. To read all four sections of this week’s Eye on IS in Libya report, click here.
On 26 February, Tunisian security forces captured IS member, Hicham Krouma, who is suspected of being involved in a several of attacks and assassinations in Tunisia as well as abroad. Krouma is said to have spent time in Derna as well as in Raqqa, Syria.
On 26 February, security forces in Sirte arrested IS member Ibrahim Mohammed Saleh Al-Qaziri, at his home in Sirte. Al-Qaziri is believed to have been responsible for broadcasting the IS radio station “al-Tawhid” in 2015 and 2016.
A weekly update of IS’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 IS in Libya this week, click here, and to read about the developments within the anti-IS Coalition of Libyan militias, click here. To read all four sections of this week’s Eye on IS in Libya report, click here.
Abstract
This article examines Katibat Uqba Bin Nafi, al-Qaeda/al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghrib’s official branch in Tunisia. It sheds light on an unexplored case study on jihadi groups in recent times by investigating its history and forthcoming prospects. Moreover, it plans to use this article as an avenue to weigh in on the debate within jihadi studies on the future of al-Qaeda and if it can take advantage of the Islamic State’s misfortunes in Iraq and Syria as well as Libya. The latter of which has more direct impact on IS’s network in Tunisia. The article interrogates a number of Arabic primary sources that have yet to be surveyed from KUBN and AQIM that will help clarify these inquiries. It will identify shortcomings in KUBN’s capacities and highlight reasons why IS will likely remain a more attractive avenue for jihadi mobilization in Tunisia going forward. This is relevant since much of the debate on AQ’s status analyzes the topic from more of a macro level than looking at specific groups within its broader global network. This research will illustrate that while the consensus might be that AQ is primed to benefit from IS’s setbacks, in the case of Tunisia, unless conditions change locally, KUBN is unlikely to follow the same trend as other AQ branches or when evaluating AQ as a whole.
Click here for the full article (15 pages).
Click the following link for a safe PDF copy: Shaykh Abū Maḥmūd Nā’il Bin Ghāzī — “The Student Asks A Question and Shaykh Abū ‘Ubaydah Yūsuf al ‘Anābī Answers #5
_____________
Source: Telegram
To inquire about a translation for this release for a fee email: [email protected]
For prior parts see: #3, #2, and #1.
—
Click the following link for a safe PDF copy: Shaykh Abū Maḥmūd Nā’il Bin Ghāzī — “The Student Asks A Question and Shaykh Abū ‘Ubaydah Yūsuf al ‘Anābī Answers #4
___________
Source: Telegram
To inquire about a translation for this release for a fee email: [email protected]
On 9 February, the eastern-based interim government aligned with Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) announced the conclusion of military operations in Derna. In a statement, the interim government claimed that terrorists had been completely eliminated from the whole of eastern Libya. On 12 February, the 46 remaining fighters belonging to the Derna Protection Force (formerly the Derna Mujahideen Shura Council) surrendered to the LNA. Amongst those surrendering was Rasheed Abdullah (aka Hafs al-Mauritani, who was the head of the groups “Security Squad” and military commander, and Hafidh al-Dhabea’ (aka Abu Aiyoub).
Over the last week, the following Derna Protection Force members were reportedly killed or their bodies discovered in the Old City of Derna:
On 8 February, local security forces arrest terrorist suspects Kamel Azzouz and his brother in Misrata. The two are suspected of being members of al-Qaeda. The circumstances around the arrests are unclear at this time.
A weekly update of IS’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 IS in Libya this week, click here, and to read about the developments within the anti-IS Coalition of Libyan militias, click here. To read all four sections of this week’s Eye on IS in Libya report, click here.
Arabic:
English:
____________
Source: Telegram
To inquire about a translation for this statement for a fee email: [email protected]
Part of the title of this release is in reference to Qur’anic verse 33:23. Here it is in full: “Among the believers are men true to what they promised God. Among them is he who has fulfilled his vow [to the death], and among them is he who awaits [his chance]. And they did not alter [the terms of their commitment] by any alteration.”
—
For prior parts in this martyrdom series see: #19, #18, #17, #16, #15, #14, #13, #12, #11, #10, #9, #8, #7, #6, #5, #4, #3, #2, and #1.
—
Click the following link for a safe PDF copy: al-Qā’idah in the Islamic Maghrib — Martyrs of the Islamic Maghrib #20- True To What They Promised God- Biography of Abū Sakhr
___________
Source: Telegram
To inquire about a translation for this release for a fee email: [email protected]
On 31 January, Sirte-based 166 Battalion arrested a suspected leading member of IS in Libya, Khalifa al-Barq, during a raid on his home in Sirte. Unconfirmed reports suggested the operation was undertaken with foreign support, though Sirte officials have denied this.
On 27 January, the Criminal Investigation Agency of Misrata arrested prominent IS member Zakaria Saleh al-Sheikh in the Jebel al-Gharbi District of Misrata. Al-Sheikh had recently escaped from Derna.
On 29 January, the Libyan National Army (LNA) arrested al-Qaeda member Alamin Ali Kalfa near Sebha. Kalfa is suspected of being involved is a series of assassinations targeting security officials. This coincides with reports that the LNA has started moving al-Qaeda and IS prisoners captured in and around Sebha to Qarnada prison in Shahat.
On 2 February, LNA forces and the Derna Protection Force (DPF) clashed in the old city area of Derna, leaving several dead. The LNA has stated it expects to announce the removal of the DPF from the area within days and complete the total liberation of the city.
A weekly update of IS’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 IS in Libya this week, click here, and to read about the developments within the anti-IS Coalition of Libyan militias, click here. To read all four sections of this week’s Eye on IS in Libya report, click here.
