Category: Libya

IS in Action On 18 February, Tunisian Foreign Minister Khemaies Jhinaoui is reported to have stated in an address at the Munich Security Conference in Germany that IS will attempt to return to Libya following its defeat in Iraq and Syria. In his speech, Jhniaoui called for the need for cooperative international counter-terrorism efforts, arguing “to win our battle against terrorism, it has to be under the name of “war of thoughts,” which will eradicate extremist thinking that attempts to attract young people to ideological distortions, in addition to fighting poverty and unemployment.” Other Jihadi ActorsAn LNA offensive against the Derna Mujahedeen Shura Council (DMSC), which controls Derna, appears imminent. The Libyan National Army (LNA) continues to deploy large ground forces to Derna from Benghazi, Ajdabiya, and other areas to prepare for the assault.

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. To read their explanation of 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. To subscribe to receive this report weekly into your inbox, sign up on the subscribe page.  

IS in Action On 30 January, Indian media reported that the Indian Ministry of External Affairs had received information from Libyan authorities that an Indian national named Tabrez Tambe is being held in a Libyan jail as a prisoner of war. Tambe reportedly fled India in January 2016 to join IS in Libya. The Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad allegedly sent a letter to the Libyan authorities seeking details of his detention but has received no reply. On 31 January, the Libyan National Army 12 unit in Brak al-Shatti, a town around 60km north of Sabha, claimed that two IS affiliates had been killed in clashes with the LNA and local residents. According to media reports, three men were scouting for food supplies in Brak, but when suspicion was aroused, they shot at an LNA fighter before being chased by another LNA fighter and some local residents. Two of the men were later found dead outside the city. On 2 February, two alleged IS fighters were killed and two Libyan LNA fighters were injured in clashes near the town of Maradah. On 3 February, three alleged IS fighters were killed in clashes near Waha Company’s Dahra oil field, located between Maradah and Zallah. Two LNA fighters died and another five were injured in the clashes. The LNA media office has stated the recent spate of incidences in the region result from an LNA campaign tracking IS fighters who fled Benghazi and participated in attacks against LNA posts in al-Fughaha in October last year. Other Jihadi Actors Last week, the Libyan National Army (LNA) deployed forces from Benghazi and nearby towns to take positions around Derna to prepare an offensive against the Derna Mujahadeen Shura Council (DMSC), which controls the city. The LNA has been besieging the city for several months. The LNA’s Omar al-Mukhtar Operation Room Commander Salem Rifadi asked all citizens to move away from possible targets, indicating that shelling and/or airstrikes may be used in the offensive on targets inside the city. 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.

IS in Action On 27 January, a cooperative effort began between the al-Bunyan al-Marsous Security Directorate of Sirte and the Red Crescent of Misrata to recover the bodies of IS fighters buried in Sirte’s neighborhood 600 and 656. Three bodies were recovered with another six the following day. Neighborhood 600 saw some of the most intense clashes between IS fighters and al-Bunyan al-Marsous forces in 2016, when the former occupied the city. Other Jihadi Actors On 23 January, a dual bombing in Benghazi led to at least 40 deaths, with many of those critically injured in the initial attack subsequently dying from their wounds. The first bomb went off outside the Bayaat al-Radwan mosque in the central al-Salmani district, as worshippers were leaving evening prayers. Around 10 to 15 minutes later, after security and health officials had arrived on the scene, a second more powerful blast was reportedly detonated from a Mercedes parked on the opposite side of the street. The victims include both Libyan National Army (LNA) fighters and civilians. While no one has claimed responsibility for the attack, LNA affiliated groups have blamed jihadists. On 29 January, in Derna fighting escalated in the south of the city after the Derna Mujahedeen Shura Council reportedly abducted and executed three people who they accused of being LNA loyalists and militants preparing for subversion in the city.

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. To read their explanation of 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. To subscribe to receive this report weekly into your inbox, sign up on the subscribe page.