Action – 11 May 2015

May 11, 2015 | ISIS

In Sirte, isolated clashes continue to erupt between Misratan forces belonging to the 166th battalion and local cells of the IS. For the time being, both sides appear to prefer avoiding an all-out confrontation: the IS cells due to their limited military capacities and the 166th battalion to avoid engulfing the city in a house-by-house fight on the model of what occurred in Benghazi.

In Derna, although no fighting was reported as of last week, reports started to emerge, indicating that tension between members of local groups part of the Shura Council of the Mujahideen of Derna and members of local IS cells is high and that infighting between these radical Islamist groups, along the lines of events seen in Syria, could occur very soon.

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.