On 31 January, the Sirte-based 166 Battalion arrested Khalifa Barq, a notable leader of Ansar al-Sharia and ISIS loyalist.
Day: February 5, 2019
30 January – 5 February: LNA arrest al-Qaeda member in Sebha
On 29 January, the LNA arrested al-Qaeda member Alamin Ali Kalfa near Sebha. On 2 February, LNA forces and the Derna Protection Force clashed in the old city area of Derna.
30 January – 5 February: French fighter jets launch airstrike on Libyan convoy
On 3 February, French fighter jets had launched airstrikes on armed groups that entered northern Chad from Libya. On 2 February, UN Envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame announced the start of a tour of meetings with key Libyan political figures. On 2 February, European Union representative, Federica Mogherini, stated that there was consensus on Operation Sophia. On 30 January, the GNA’s Minister of Interior met with US Charge d’Affaires to Libya.
30 January – 5 February: LNA operations push further south into the Murzuq area
The Libyan National Army (LNA) mobile force continued to advance southward into the Murzuq region last week. On 30 January, LNA spokesman stated that the LNA now has three axes of connection to Libya’s western region coinciding with several declarations of support for the LNA in the region. On 2 February, the GNA’s Chief of Staff stated that the GNA was not coordinating with the LNA in the south.