30 January – 5 February: Ansar al-Sharia and ISIS loyalist arrested in Sirte

Feb 5, 2019 | ISIS

On 31 January, the Sirte-based 166 Battalion arrested Khalifa Barq, a notable leader of Ansar al-Sharia and ISIS loyalist. Barq was arrested during a raid on his home in central Sirte. Unconfirmed reports suggested the operation was undertaken with foreign support, though Sirte officials have denied this.

On 27 January, the Criminal Investigation Agency of Misrata arrested prominent ISIS member Zakaria Saleh al-Sheikh in the Jebel al-Gharbi District of Misrata. Al-Sheikh had recently escaped from Derna.