Pro-government and Islamist forces are fighting over two of the country’s largest oil ports in eastern Libya, shutting both down. The Islamist Libya Dawn carried out its first airstrikes of the conflict, hitting security forces in the port cities of Sidra and Ras Lanuf. Pro-government allied Zintanis claim to have captured “a senior Libya Dawn […]
US Seeks to Use Letters Found in Bin Laden Raid in Terrorism Trial
Anti-government forces with Libya Dawn attacked al-Hilal, a major oil region, causing the shutdown of one oil export port and threatening another. Pro-government forces under General Khalifa Hafter and Libya Dawn are fighting over the Ras Jdir border crossing, the main crossing into Tunisia. Hafter’s forces claimed to have seized “the western Bokmash area and […]
Britain pressing Tobruk to reach agreement with Muslim Brotherhood: Libyan minister
Senior al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb leader reportedly killed in Libya
Egypt looks to roll back Islamist militias in Libya
Libya’s internationally recognized prime minister said that pro-government troops are moving toward Triploi “to liberate it” from Islamist militias and the rival government. Medical sources said 50 people have been killed in the past 10 days during fighting in Benghazi. A Libyan government source claims that France blocked UK attempts to place sanctions on pro-government […]
Kerry seeks authority to target Islamic State affiliates anywhere
The UN is expanding peace talks in Libya to include the rival government based in Tripoli, in addition to the internationally recognized government currently in Tobruk. General Khalifa Hafter has stipulated eight conditions for participation in the talks, including the recognition of the Tobruk government as the sole representative of the Libyan people. Ansar al […]
US Africa Command General David Rodriguez noted that reports on the Islamic State’s presence in Libya are “mixed,” but that individuals are “coming [to Libya] for training and logistics support right now. It’s for training sites, and that’s what we see right now. As far as a huge command-and-control network, I’ve not seen that yet.” […]
Egypt ready to assist Lebanon against jihadists
Libyan Army airstrikes in the western city of Zwara killed eight people and wounded 24; a spokesman from Tripoli’s Islamist-controlled government claimed the strike hit a food warehouse and a chemical factory, whereas Army forces under General Khalifa Haftar claimed the target was an arms depot. A random shell killed four people and wounded seven […]
Roughly 400 people have been killed in Benghazi during the past six weeks of fighting between pro-government forces and Islamist militias. The Libya Scholars League has reportedly called for Libyan resistance to the jihadist Ansar al Sharia.
Human Rights Watch reports that Islamic extremists are “terrorizing” citizens of Derna “through summary executions, public floggings, and other violent abuse.” The UN Security Council expressed “profound concern” for the violence in Libya. Turkey has condemned the Libyan Air Force strikes on Mitiga Airport in Tripoli; a court in the parallel government issued an arrest […]
ISIS gaining a toehold in Libya, experts say
An airstrike hit the Mitiga airport in Tripoli for the second day in a row; the forces of general Khalifa Haftar claimed the attack on Nov. 24. Libyan Air Force planes also bombed a Libya Dawn camp in Sabratha. Haftar’s troops and other pro-government forces took the western town of Kekla from Islamist militias. The […]
The UN has added Ansar al Sharia to its list of terrorist organizations and imposed sanctions on the Islamist group. US officials said they are “concerned” about the Islamic State’s ties to Derna. A Libya Dawn commander was injured in fighting with pro-government forces near Gwalish.
Some reports claim that jihadists allied to the Islamic State are in control of the city of Derna; about “300 of the 800-strong force” of local IS are believed to have fought with the group in Iraq and Syria. “Sporadic clashes” between pro-government forces and Libya Dawn continue southwest of Tripoli. Libya Dawn is reported […]
Four people were reported killed and 10 wounded in fighting between Libya Dawn and pro-government forces near Mitiga Airport in Tripoli. Omar al-Hassi, the head of the Islamist regime based in Tripoli, has rejected negotiations with pro-government forces. Libya was ranked 15th on the most recent Global Terrorism Index.
Mitiga Airport closed down after fighting between unknown factions broke out in Tripoli. “Medical sources” claim 356 people – over 200 of them pro-government fighters – have been killed in the past month of fighting in Benghazi; the Libyan parliament has declared the city “a disaster area.”
A pair of car bombs detonated near the closed Egyptian and UAE embassies in Tripoli, causing no injuries but some damage. The UAE blamed Libya Dawn and Ansar al Sharia for the attack. Ansar al Sharia released a video showing the beheading of a Libyan soldier who was fighting among General Khalifa Hiftar’s pro-government forces […]
Turkey’s role in Libya adds to pro-Islamist perception
Two car bombs exploded in the pro-government strongholds of Tobruk and Labraq in eastern Libya, killing at least 13 people and injuring over 15. A third car bomb exploded in Benghazi, causing “damage” but no casualties. The Libyan Army reportedly conducted airstrikes against Islamists in Derna who are aligned with the Islamic State; four people […]
UAE emerges as quiet, potent US ally
Ansar al Sharia Libya has a new Twitter feed. In recent days, the group also showcased its first open event in the city of Derna.
Die Welt, a German daily, has published an account that jibes with The Long War Journal’s reporting on the Sept. 11, 2012 terrorist attack in Benghazi.
But Abdul Hakim al Hasadi has a jihadist pedigree.