New video message from the Department of Moral Affairs of the Egyptian Armed Forces: “The Military Court Sentences to Death Hishām ‘Alī Ashmāwī”

Eye On Jihadis in Libya Weekly Update: November 6

IS in Action On 3 November, IS fighters clashed with the Libyan National Army’s 128th Battalion near the al-Mabrouk oilfield south of Sirte. No causalities were reported. Other Jihadi Actors On 4 November, the Libyan National Army spokesperson, Brigadier General Ahmed al-Mesmari, stated that investigations into al-Qaeda affiliated Egyptian terrorist Hisham Ashmawi were ongoing. The spokesperson also denied that Ashmawi had been transferred to Egypt. 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. Eye-on-Isis-Logo-001

Eye On Jihadis in Libya Weekly Update: October 9

IS in Action Throughout last week the Sirte Protection Force (SPF) was on a state of alert following reports of the presence of IS fighters near Sirte. Several days before, the SPF posted photos of their manned checkpoints on the outskirts of the city. Other Jihadi Actors On 8 October, the spokesperson for the Libyan National Army (LNA), Ahmed Mesmari, stated that the Libyan National Army (LNA) had captured former Egyptian Special Forces officer turned Egyptian jihadist, Hisham al-Ashmawy, in the al-Maghar neighborhood of Derna. Al-Ashmawy was captured with a suicide vest on, which he had failed to detonate. Photos published by the LNA show al-Ashmawy bloodied and receiving treatment following his arrest. Following his capture, Egyptian security officials have called for his extradition. Described by some security officials as Egypt’s most wanted man, Al-Ashmawy (also known as Abu Omar Al-Muhajir) joined the Egyptian Armed forces in the 1990s and became a member of the Egyptian Special Forces in 1996, before eventually being expelled from the military for his radicalization. He then joined a north Sinai militant group, Ansar Beit al-Maqdis. However, when this group pledged its allegiance to IS in July 2014, Ashmawy split from the group and established his own group that became linked with al-Qaeda. Al-Ashmawy led the al-Qaeda front groups al-Mourabitoun and later Jama’at Ansar al-Islam. Al-Ashmawy is thought to have been using Derna as a safe haven from which to springboard into Egypt to launch attacks. Al-Ashmawy is accused of several attacks in Egypt including an assassination attempt on then Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim in 2013 and killing a leading Egyptian public prosecutor by car bombing in 2015. Al-Ashmawy was captured along with the wife and sons of Omar Rifai Sorour, the alleged Mufti of the Derna Mujahedeen Shura Council who was killed in June of this year. He was also arrested with Bahaa Ali and Merai Abdefattah Khalil Zoghbi. Zoghbi is listed by the UN Security Council and Interpol as a member of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG), al-Qaeda, and Ansar al-Islam. The jihadist is said to have escaped from Italy to Turkey in 2009 where he was provided political asylum. He is thought to have returned to Libya in 2011, fighting with LIFG members amongst the Rafa’a al-Sahti Brigade that would eventually become part of Ansar al-Sharia in Libya. 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. Eye-on-Isis-Logo-001

Eye On Jihadis in Libya Weekly Update: July 24

IS in Action On 24 July, IS fighters raided a police station in al-Uqaylah, west of Brega, destroying at least two vehicles with unconfirmed reports suggesting that multiple officers were killed and at least one was beheaded. Clashes also occurred at a Libyan National Army (LNA) checkpoint 20km south of the town following the incident. Additional unconfirmed reports suggest that IS militants had actually captured al-Uqaylah for several hours. IS has since claimed responsibility for the incident. Other Jihadi Actors On 21 July, reports began emerging of confessions from Derna Protection Force (DPF) prisoners interrogated by the Libyan National Army (LNA) suggesting that Hisham Ashmawi (Abu Omar al-Muhajir al-Masri) is amongst one hundred or so Derna Protection Force (DFP) remnants isolated to small pockets of old town Derna by the LNA. Hisham Ashmawi is a former Egyptian Special Forces officer who is said to lead the al-Qaeda-linked organization Jama’at Ansar Al-Islam. 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. Eye-on-Isis-Logo-001

New statement from al-Murābiṭūn’s Abū ‘Umar al-Mustabashir (Hishām ‘Alī Ashmāwī): "Jerusalem: So Where Are the Soldiers of God!"


Click the following link for a safe PDF copy: Abū ‘Umar al-Mustabashir (Hishām ‘Alī Ashmāwī) — Jerusalem- So Where Are the Soldiers of God!
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To inquire about a translation for this statement for a fee email: [email protected]

New audio message from al-Murābiṭūn’s Abū ‘Umar al-Muhājir al-Maṣrī (Hishām ‘Alī Ashmāwī): "Life the Siege on Binghāzī"

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Abū ‘Umar al-Muhājir al-Maṣrī (Hishām ‘Alī Ashmāwī) — “Life the Siege on Binghāzī”

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New video message from al-Murābiṭūn’s Abū ‘Umar al-Muhājir al-Maṣrī (Hishām ‘Alī Ashmāwī): "So Do Not Weaken and Do Not Grieve"

The title of this video message is in reference to the Qur’anic verse 3:139. Here it is in full: “So do not weaken and do not grieve, and you will be superior if you are [true] believers.”


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New video message from al-Murābiṭūn’s Abū ‘Umar al-Muhājir al-Maṣrī (Hishām ‘Alī Ashmāwī): "And That Day The Believers Will Rejoice"

The title of this release is in reference to Qur’anic verse 30:4. Here it is in full: “Within three to nine years. To God belongs the command before and after. And that day the believers will rejoice.”



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