ISIS continues to keep a tight grip on Sirte despite increasing hardship faced by the city’s population. Basic food and other items are increasingly scarce, while the exodus of Sirte’s residents is ongoing. ISIS has also enforced mandatory Sharia courses and regularly conducted raids on the homes of local dissidents. An ISIS video statement on 19 March titled ‘Message to …
Read Full PostThe UK parliament’s foreign affairs select committee asked the government whether it intends to send 1,000 non-combat troops to Libya to train an army capable of driving ISIS from the country. Senior members of the committee said they were told in Tunis that the Italians would provide 5,000 troops and the UK 1,000, with more provided by the French. However, …
Read Full PostNon-state actors (including ISIS) seemed to focus more on the media and propaganda war over the last week, as opposed to field combat. The media arm of the Derna Mujahedeen Shura Council (DMSC), Al Salsabeel Institution, released a video on 20 March of the interrogation of captured ISIS members. The video revealed the identities of 16 ISIS members that were …
Read Full PostThe anti-ISIS coalition in Derna is showing signs of stress. On 21 March, the day after the Derna Mujahedeen Shura Council (DMSC) released a video the interrogation of captured ISIS members, the DMSC executed eight of the detainees. This act has increased tensions between the groups, as well as their supporters, which has been steadily growing during the last two weeks. …
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