15 – 21 Feb: Senior Ansar al-Sharia Fighter Killed in Ganfuda

Feb 21, 2017 | Other Jihadi Actors

On 17 February, Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) resumed its assault against the remaining jihadi fighters in the 12 flats area of Gandufa in Benghazi. Huthayfa al-Faqout, a senior Ansar al-Sharia fighter, was reported killed in the fighting. Two jihadists reportedly died in an explosion when one of their own IED mines exploded as they attempted to flee the 12 flats area. On 19 February, the LNA handed over the al-Jawhara resort in Ganfuda to its owners after they secured the area from jihadists. In Ajdabiya, the LNA counter terrorism unit reportedly freed 13 Egyptian hostages after brief clashes with their captors.

The Derna Mujhadeen Shura Council (DMSC) issued a statement last week congratulating defecting LNA officers for their recent denunciation of Haftar, calling on the defectors to completely condemn him as a tyrant and inviting them to come to Derna. However, the DMSC promised the defecting officers nothing in return, asking them to come only for God and for country. On 21 February, a landmine reportedly killed one child and injured two others in the 400 area of Derna.