ISIS

Our archive of political and security incidents relating to Islamic State activity in Libya

Action — 29 Dec 2016

ISIS told residents that anyone caught celebrating Libya’s independence day, Christmas or New Year’s Eve would be punished. Last week, a young local who participated in the revolt against ISIS in the summer was also executed…. New reports suggest that the group is using land in Harawah previously owned by Col. Abdallah Mansour, a Qadhafi loyalist, as training grounds for their fighters.

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Action 22 Dec 2015

Rumors are rife throughout Sirte and local social media regarding the arrival of key ISIS personalities from Iraq…. In Tripoli, a Sufi Zawiya (shrine) was bombed in the city center area of Abu Meshmasha in the late hours of Monday 21 December.

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Action –15 Dec 2015

Establishing a New Social Contract for Sirte: A recent edition of Dabiq, the official magazine of IS, published an interview with the current ISIS leader in Libya, Abu Mughira, shedding light on how its senior leaderships view the strategic value of Libya to its overall expansion. In the article, Abu Mughira underscores Libya’s location and resources as the key pillars for the ISIS expansion in the country, adding that all Muslims have a right to these resources, and that control over them will lead to economic breakdowns for Europe, especially Italy.

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Action — 7 Dec 2015

In Tripoli, pro-GNC militias captured an alleged member of ISIS last week. The captive, a Tunisian, detailed ISIS activities throughout Libya, implicating Murad Al-Gumati, leading to his murder by the Tripoli Rada militia (AKA special deterrence forces or – قوة الردع الخاصة). The incident follows on last week’s assault on an official of the religious affairs ministry who was accused of having ISIS affiliations. Although the Rada enjoys popularity in the capital as a keeper of law and order (such as these concepts are understood in Libya) the Salafist affiliation of Rada’s commander, Abdulraouf Kara, may have encouraged him to provoke a “black-on-black” fight between Islamist militias that are pro and anti-ISIS.

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Action – 23 November 2015

IS assassinated two more security officers Ajdabiya, bringing the number killed this month to twelve. The killings reinforce the local and tribal divisions in the Oil Crescent and threaten serious regional instability.

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Action – 11 October 2015

Islamic State is refocusing away from Derna and toward Sirte. It is imposing internal discipline on its fighters in Sirte and attacking towards Misrata.

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Action – 24 August 2015

In Benghazi, IS cells are operating more and more independently from all other forces present. In Derna, the LNA and Derna Mujahiddeen Shura Council are adopting a complementary approach in their fight against IS without directly cooperating.

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Action – 10 August 2015

IS has now reportedly taken control of al-Wushka and Wadi Zamzam, located 65 and 105 miles to the West of Sirte respectively, while one of their Benghazi commanders, Imad Zway, was killed in Benghazi.

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Action – 3 August 2015

IS continues to grow and strengthen its position in Sirte and in the surrounding region, adopting an increasingly aggressive stance.

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Action – 13 July 2015

IS is continuing to make small but highly significant gains in central Libya. Having taken the town of Suwawa last week, this week saw it capture Wushka.

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Action – 8 June 2015

IS now has control of Harawa, Sirte and Nawfaliya prompting serious concerns that it will continue to expand along the coastal area, ultimately posing a serious threat to the Oil Crescent area and Misrata.

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ISIS in Action 1 June 2015

Tripoli Militant Islamist groups are also operating in Tripoli and in other western towns and there was evidence this week that ISIS – Tripoli Wilaya is stepping up its rhetoric in the capital.  ISIS called on parents to withdraw their daughters from Tripoli University and other educational establishments on the grounds that they should not […]

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Action – 25 May 2015

Sirte and its surrounding region witnessed a week of intense fighting, which has so far led to IS militants consolidating their grip over the area. Benghazi witnessed a renewed spike in violence.

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Action – 11 May 2015

In Sirte, isolated clashes continue to erupt between Misratan forces belonging to the 166th battalion and local cells of the IS. Besides establishing two safe havens for training and R&R activities in Derna and Sirte, IS cells are reportedly building up their presence and capabilities in western Libya, especially inside Tripoli.

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Action – 5 May 2015

Besides establishing two safe havens for training and R&R activities in Derna and Sirte, IS cells are reportedly building up their presence and capabilities in western Libya, especially inside Tripoli.

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Action – 27 April 2015

IS struck against another foreign target in the capital this week, with the group’s Tripoli Wilaya claiming responsibility for the bombing of the Spanish embassy.

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Action – 13 April 2015

The so-called Tripoli Wilaya of the Islamic State struck in the capital again this week, claiming responsibility for attacks against the South Korean and Moroccan embassies.

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Action – 5 April 2015

IS launched another attack on Misrata this week, detonating a car bomb on 5 April at the Sadada checkpoint to the east of the city. Operation Libya Dawn looks as far as ever from dislodging IS from Sirte. IS fighters are in key positions inside Sirte and clearly have no intention of backing down.

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Action – 29 March 2015

ISIS are still present around the nearby town of Nawfiliya, which Sunrise forces took back last week. ISIS fighters are reported to have set up a checkpoint at the entrance to Nawfiliya in recent days. ISIS also carried out a suicide bombing this week against Operation Sunrise forces at an electricity plant 15 km west of Sirte. The attack was executed shortly after Operation Sunrise planes bombed ISIS positions in the town.

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Action – 23 March 2015

On 16 March a booby trapped car exploded at a military camp belonging to Brigade 166 prompting Misrata to announce a state of high alert and night time curfew. Another blast occurred on 22 March targeting an intelligence service headquarters in Misrata.

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Action – 9 March 2015

Several members of the Petroleum Facilities Guards were killed in attacks on the Al-Ghani and Dhahra fields and nine foreigners were kidnapped. Most blame Islamic State for the attacks while some blame Libya Dawn.

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Action – 2 March 2015

The Islamic State released video directed at foreign fighters, calling on them to come to Libya because “the state of Islam is expanding.” UN-sponsored peace talks that were due to take place in Morocco on 26 February were postponed following the HoR’s announcement last week that it was suspending its participation in the process.

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Action – 23 February 2015

On Sunday 22 February, the vacant residence of the Iranian Ambassador was bombed twice in an attack for which Islamic State cells in Libya later claimed responsibility. In revenge for Egyptian air strikes after the execution of Egyptian Coptic Christians, on Friday 20 February, radical groups from Derna detonated three car bombs in the city of Qubbah, currently affiliated with OD and the Tubruq establishment, killing 40 and wounding 70.

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Action – 16 February 2015

ISIS in Sirte (Tripoli Wilayat) released a video depicting the beheadings of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians on 15 February. ISIS elements extended their control over parts of Sirte this week. On 13 February gunmen attacked the Bahi oil facility.

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Action – 9 February 2015

On Wednesday 4 February, approximately 40 gunmen assaulted an oilfield in Mabruk, 170 kilometres south of Sirte, damaging its infrastructure, killing ten and abducting three Filipinos and two Nigerians workers present on site.

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Action – 19 January 2015

ISIS-cells inside Libya appear to be increasingly assertive and to be developing the potential to influence military and political events at the national level, including UN-backed negotiations and the overall dialogue process. An explosive device was detonated outside of the Algerian Embassy in Tripoli and 21 Coptic Christians were abducted in Sirte.

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Action – 5 January 2015

On Friday 2 January, 14 soldiers belonging to the 168th Battalion of the Libyan Army were killed. The Cyrenaica-based IS cell published a number of photos portraying apartments and cars belonging to supporters of Khalifa Haftar’s Operation Dignity burned and destroyed by member of the radical Islamist organisation.

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