ISIS

Our archive of political and security incidents relating to Islamic State activity in Libya

20 May – 26 May: ISIS claims four attacks in Libya in May

On 21 May, ISIS’s al-Naba issue no. 235 claimed responsibility for three attacks in Libya. On 25 May, ISIS claimed responsibility for a VBIED attack in Taraghin. On 24 May, LNA stated that they had arrested suspected Syrian ISIS leader, Muhamad al-Ruwaidani aka al-Baidani in Tripoli.

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4 March – 10 March: Alleged ISIS member arrested

On 29 February a Sudanese doctor was arrested in Libya’s South on suspicion of being affiliated with ISIS and planning to undertake a terrorist attack. He is currently being processed by security forces, who suspect he has knowledge of other ISIS cells in the South.

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29 January – 4 February 2020: LNA claims to have arrested former ISIS media official

On 26-27 January, an unidentified drone flew over Sebha through to Murzuq suspected to be pursuing ISIS-Libya members. On 27 January, the LNA’s 173 Infantry Brigade claimed ISIS fighters had fired on the LNA’s Joint Security Room of Wadi Otbah. On 30 January, the head of the media office of the LNA General Administration of the Criminal Investigation of the Army, claimed to have arrested an alleged former ISIS media official.

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8 – 14 January 2020: Suspected ISIS cells active in southern Libya

On 6 January, suspected ISIS “sleeper cells” were observed in southern Libya. On 8 January, the Ajilat Criminal Investigations Department undertook a raid targeting alleged anti-LNA fighters accused of interfering with the arrest of an ISIS fighter. On 9 January, an airstrike by an unidentified entity targeted ISIS fighters in southern Libya.

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27 November – 3 December 2019: Three alleged ISIS fighters arrested

On 29 November, the GNA’s MoI announced that it had arrested Emad Faraj Mansour al-Shuqabi on charges relating to terrorism and being the coordinator between ISIS and Ansar al-Sharia. On 20 November, the Benghazi’s Criminal Investigation General Directorate captured a suspected ISIS fighter from Benghazi. On 20 November, security forces arrested a suspected Chadian ISIS fighter in Taraghin in southern Libya.

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16 October – 22 October: Suspected ISIS member arrested in Sirte

On 14 October, the Misratan Counter-Terrorism Forces (CTF) arrested a man in Sirte on the suspicion of being a member of ISIS. On 16 October, a spokesperson for the Sirte Protection Force (SPF) claimed that ISIS fighters had reorganised in large numbers in the mountainous areas of southern Libya. On 16 October, the LNA claimed to have arrested an ISIS member after its Special Forces conducted an operation in the al-Gharat area.

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28 August – 3 September: UN Secretary General claims increase in ISIS attacks in southern Libya since April

On 29 August, the UN published a report outlining the UN Secretary General’s overview of the Libyan crisis as presented to the UN Security Council on 26 August. The report claimed there “was a significant increase in the number of attacks by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in southern Libya” following the LNA’s assault on Tripoli in April.

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21 – 27 August: ISIS member allegedly killed on Tripoli frontlines

On 27 August, unconfirmed reports claim the LNA killed an alleged ISIS member fighting on the front lines in southern Tripoli. On 15 August, unconfirmed reports suggest ISIS militants attacked a checkpoint in Bawbat al-Souda in the Jufra region. On 18 August, the LNA’s spokesperson, claimed ISIS members are amongst the opposition forces it is fighting in Murzuq.

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10 July – 16 July: ISIS release eulogy for its media officer in Libya

On 11 July, ISIS released its al-Naba newsletter no 190, which featured a eulogy for ISIS Libya’s media officer. On 9 July, the Shahat CID arrested a suspected ISIS member, Ayoub Salah Abdul Aziz al-Alsoinai. On 9 July, the commander of the PFG denied reports that there was an attack by ISIS at the gate of Zilla oilfield.

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3 July – 9 July: ISIS in Libya release video “And the Best Outcome Is for the Righteous”

On 6 July, ISIS Libya released a video renewing their pledge of allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. On 4 July, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was “worried” that jihadist fighters were travelling to Libya from Syria. On the same day, EUROPOL warned that Islamist extremist are attempting to get to Libya following the collapse of ISIS in the Levant. On 4 July, security forces in Sirte allegedly arrested a suspected ISIS member.

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12 June – 18 June: LNA and ISIS clash over two days near Harouj

On 17 June, LNA forces claimed they observed ISIS elements between Sirte and Saddada. On 12, 14 and 15 June, clashes between LNA and ISIS fighters occurred in the Harouj mountains. On 14 June, ISIS released an Amaq report claiming to have killed fifty LNA fighters. On 15 June, ISIS claimed IED attack targeting LNA forces near Tmassah. On 11 June, security forces stopped two migrants on suspicion of being members of ISIS. On 8 June, the Algerian army fired upon a suspected ISIS armed group as they approached the boarder.

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5 – 11 June: ISIS suspected of being involved in IED attack targeting police in Derna

On 3 June, ISIS is suspected of undertaking an attack on the al-Fuqaha gate. On 4 June, ISIS is suspected of being involved in an IED attack in Derna. On 8 June, BAM spokesperson stated that ISIS sleeper cells were observed in the Garabulli district east of Tripoli. On 10 June, a suspected ISIS member was arrested in the Shabia area of Sirte. On 9 June, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian suggested that ISIS was resurgent in the Fezzan.

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29 May – 4 June: ISIS attacks LNA checkpoint in Fuqaha area

On 27 May, Misrata security forces undertook a raid in Abu Grein, arresting alleged ISIS supporter Faris Belhaj. On 28 May, the Misratan Central Counter-Terrorism Force arrested seven alleged ISIS members in Abu Grein. On 28 May, ISIS was observed south of Sirte. On 30 May, ISIS published a second set of “Diary of a Mujahedeen” photos. On 3 June, ISIS claimed to have attacked the LNA) Checkpoint 400 in the Fuqaha area. On 3 June, ISIS claimed responsibility for the two vehicle-borne IEDs attacks in Derna conducted on 2 June.

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15 May – 21 May: ISIS attacks a LNA checkpoint near Zilla

On 20 May, the SPF claimed to have intercepted communications of ISIS fighters planning to undertake a assault on Sirte. On 18 May, ISIS fighters attacked a LNA checkpoint near Zilla. On 17 May, ISIS released its al-Naba newsletter no. 182, which featured a report on the group’s raid on Ghadduwa. On 13 May, ISIS published photos of the group’s members daily lives in the Fezzan.

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8 May – 14 May: ISIS conducted an attack on the town of Ghadduwa

On 9 May, ISIS conducted a daylight attack on the town of Ghadduwa. On 9 May, ISIS released its al-Naba newsletter no 181 that featured as its cover and main article the group’s 4 May attack. On 12 May, UK-based tabloid the Sunday Express reported that British military officials believe ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been hiding in Libya. On 14 May, the Sabratha Operations Room claim suspected ISIS member Safwan Abdul Majid was killed in an LNA airstrike in Zawiyya.

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1 May – 7 May: ISIS attack LNA camp in Sebha

On 4 May, ISIS claimed an attack against the LNA’s 160 Brigade Jabril Baba training camp in Sebha. On 25 April, the GNA MoI arrested Yasser Saleh Khalifa al-Majri for his alleged membership to ISIS. On 25 April, ISIS fighters attacked the home of a LNA supporter, Khaloukh Massoud, in Ghadduwa.

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24 April – 1 May: Baghdadi sees Africa as promising territory for ISIS and praises Fuqaha attack

On 29 April, ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi appeared in a video for the first time in five years. In his message, Baghdadi said that he sees Africa as an important location for the group’s future operations. He said that ISIS could be effective in Libya despite losing Sirte in 2016. He called on ISIS fighters in Libya to carry out a war of attrition and praised the recent ISIS attacks against the town of Fuqaha, in Libya’s central region, saying they were in revenge for ISIS’s defeat in al-Baghuz, Syria.

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10 April – 16 April: GNA-aligned forces arrest ISIS member in Tripoli

On 13 April, the GNA Ministry of Interior announce the arrest of ISIS member Anas Abrik Zouki. On 11 April, ISIS claim to have killed six LNA fighters in Ghadduwa, in south-western Libya. On 11 April, ISIS released its Naba newsletter no. 177 , which included details on the group’s recent attacks on Fuqaha and Ghadduwa.

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20 March – 26 March: Rada arrest notable ISIS fighter in Ras Ajdir

On 22 March, Rada arrested a notable ISIS fighter from Sirte, Ahmed Masoud Ammari, On 22 March, a former local security force member thought killed by ISIS was found dead near al-Bartamah. On 21 March, the SPF disposed of three unexploded ordinances suspected of being from when ISIS had control of the city in 2016.

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13 March – 19 March: ISIS spokesman comments on fighters in Libya in new speech

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.

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20 February – 26 February: ISIS member responsible for broadcasting the ISIS radio station “Al-Tawheed” arrested

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.

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9 January – 15 January: Rada release details on suspects involved in ISIS attacks in Tripoli

On 7 January, Rada released information on individuals suspected of orchestrating recent ISIS attacks in Tripoli and the Oil Crescent. On 8 January, Fathi Bashaga suggests ISIS is operating freely in the greater Tripoli region. On 10 January, unconfirmed reports suggesting two ISIS fighters were arrested in Tripoli. On 9 January, the body of the former leader of ISIS in Libya, Abu Nabil al-Anbari, was uncovered in a mass grave in Derna.

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22 – 28 August: ISIS claims attack on Kaam checkpoint

On 23 August, ISIS claimed an attack on the Kaam checkpoint 20 km east of Khoms. Six members of the GNA-affiliated Special Operations Force were killed. The attack was reportedly conducted by three men, one of whom was killed, using automatic rifles and PRGs.

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