On 29 March, ISIS undertook a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (SVBIED) attack on the southern entrance to Ajdabiya killing 5 people, wounding 6 and damaging at least 6 vehicles. A fuel tanker passing by at the same time allegedly compounded the explosion. The following day ISIS’s media arm claimed responsibility for the attack, identifying the suicide bomber as Abu Qodamah al-Sayeh.
On 30 March, internal security forces undertook a raid on a farmhouse on the outskirts of Ajdabiya, arresting two people thought to be members of an ISIS sleeper cell and discovering a large cache of explosives, ammunition, firearms, and materials for producing IEDs.
On 2 April, Presidential Council (PC) spokesperson Mohammed al-Sallack announced the launch of a new military operation dubbed Asifat al-Wattan (The Nation’s Storm) with the aim of ending ISIS’s militant presence in Libya. Ordered by PC President Fayez al-Serraj – who is the commander in chief of the Government of National Accord (GNA) aligned army – the operation will be undertaken by the Anti-Terror Force. The operation has been announced as covering from the 60km checkpoint in eastern Misrata through to the outskirts of Bani Walid, Tarhouna, Misallata, Khoms and Zliten. No other details have been given at this time.