On 18 March, ISIS spokesman released a new speech which includes comments on fighters in Libya. On 13 March, Morocco’s BCIJ arrested a six member terrorist cell, with one of the terror suspects having been previously imprisoned over connections to ISIS in Libya. On 8 March, French newspaper Liberation published an article suggesting that a senior figure of ISIS may have visited Libya in April 2017.

On 7 March, a gang of five men suspected of having connections to ISIS were arrested as they reportedly attempted in to ‘infiltrate’ Tripoli.

On 28 February, ISIS published al-Naba newsletter no. 171, which featured an article titled “The fate of Sirte is not the fate Derna.”

On 19 February, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Mikhail Bogdanov, stated that ISIS in Libya was “boosting ties with al-Qaeda.” On 26 February, Tunisian security forces captured ISIS member, Hicham Krouma, who is said to have spent time in Derna. On 26 February, security forces in Sirte arrested ISIS member Ibrahim Mohammed Saleh Al-Qaziri at his home in Sirte.

On 13 February, the Sirte Military Engineering Corps recovered unexploded ordnance left behind by ISIS on the Abu Hadi Road in Sirte. After closing the road for quarter of an hour, the disposal team recovered the explosive and later detonated it.

On 7 February, GNA Foreign Minister Mohamed Siyala participated in the Conference of Foreign Ministers of the Intentional Coalition for Defeating ISIS.