Without local ownership and unity behind the GNA, those claiming rightful Jihad against a western imposed colonial government will be vindicated, providing all the ingredients for a potent mix of local ISIS terrorism, civil war and long term chaos in the country.

In Sabratha, after the latest explosion destroying the old intelligence building in the city, the council issued a strong statement and began taking urgent steps to mitigate the threat, implementing a state of emergency throughout the city, establishing a joint operations room, setting up barricades and checkpoints and beginning a registration of all foreigners throughout the city…. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE A PHOTO COLLAGE OF ISLAMIC STATE ACTIONS AND VISUAL MATERIAL FROM THE PAST WEEK, CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS SAFE ZIPFILE.

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced on 14 Dec that the Islamic State group was spreading from its stronghold on the Libyan coast to the interior of the country with the aim of getting access to oil wells.

Al-Hassi was previously the commander of LNA operations in Derna where he has performed well and succeeded in getting anti-ISIS Islamist militias to work together with anti-Islamist Haftar forces. In short, Hassi represents the “broad Mosque” model that is needed to forge any feasible anti-ISIS coaltion in Benghazi.

The wave of assassinations in Ajdabiya is stoking tensions between the Libyan National Army and other factions there.

Clashes continue in Benghazi and Derna with several commanders killed.

In Benghazi, Haftar’s operation Doom forces continue to pound strongholds of the Benghazi Revolutionary Shura Council (BRSC) and allied extremist elements including Ansar Al Sharia and IS with airstrikes, mortars, and heavy artillery.

There was no discernable response to the ISIS threat from the anti-ISIS coalition this week.

Fighting continues on five front in Benghazi. An ISIS commander was captured in Derna and another killed in Ben Jawwad.

Intense fighting continues in Benghazi and Derna while tension between the Petroleum Facilities Guards and the Libyan National Army grows in the oil crescent.

Fighting continues in Benghazi and Derna, while new fighting erupting in Ajdabiyya between Islamist and non-Islamist forces and also between Federalist and pro-Haftar forces.

Intense fighting in Benghazi and tension within and between factions in Derna and the oil crescent.

Fighting continues in Benghazi and Derna.

After horrific ISIS activities in Sirte the previous week, on Wednesday 19 August, the Arab League held an extraordinary meeting in Cairo, offering a general pledge to help Libya in its fight against extremism and terrorism.

The past week saw an armed rebellion against ISIS taking place in Sirte when ISIS killed the Imam of Sirte’s Cordoba Mosque. It was, however, brutally crushed over the course of 48 hours.

During the past week, Haftar has also concentrated his efforts on retaining key support from local tribes and notables, meeting with elders and representatives of tribes from Benghazi, Benina, al-Abiar, Sulouq, al-Tukra and al-Rajma.