Libyan actors

On 6 July, the Libyan National Army (LNA) suffered major blows, with the death of 11 soldiers in a suicide attack, and downing of its ace Mig-23 pilot Major Idris Hamed Al-Obeidi. Obeidi, an iconic LNA fighter pilot, was killed when his plane crashed during a mission against jihadists in Ganfuda. On 10 July, Tariq Al Saiti, another iconic LNA solider who specialized in de-mining and was a highly respected figure in Benghazi, was killed. These setbacks have dampened the high hopes for a swift and decisive defeat of jihadists in eastern Libya.

Three key developments were identified last week: 1) The unabated momentum of the Government of National Accord’s (GNA) Bunyan Marsus coalition against ISIS in Sirte, 2) the Libyan National Army’s (LNA) surge eradicated the remaining pockets of jihadi fighters in southwestern Benghazi and 3) and the influence of the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG) in the oil crescent has taken a significant hit.

In the coming weeks, Libya’s oil crescent is likely to witness increased tension between three actors: the Libyan National Army (LNA), the Government of National Accord-aligned Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG), and renegade Islamist militias… The reversal of military momentum once more in favour of the LNA, coupled with the Islamist subversion of the GNA’s anti-ISIS, efforts is bolstering the political position of Haftar and anti-GNA factions… After several Islamist militias broke away from the GNA’s Bunyan Marsus coalition and attacked Ajdabiya on 18 June, the GNA’s political position in the oil crescent was severely compromised, and with it the standing of PFG forces loyal to Ibrahim Jadhran… Meanwhile, the GNA is still holed up in Abu Setta naval base, while other militias affiliated to Islamist forces have a freer hand in the Tripoli.

The political damage to the Government of National Accord (GNA), following the attack on Ajdabiya on 18 June by Islamist militias, may undo fragile militia alliances in Tripoli and key towns in western Libya. Meanwhile, an escalation of open conflict between the Libyan National Army (LNA) and Islamist militias from western Libya is now very likely, and could potentially spill over into a broader tribal/regional conflict involving the LNA and the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG).

As militias nominally aligned with the Government of National Accord (GNA) made highly impressive gains against ISIS in Sirte last week, and a degree of euphoria has gripped international actors and some GNA supporters, these gains have not automatically led to authentic political unity among Libya’s major anti-ISIS factions. To the contrary, prospects for unity and strengthened political legitimacy for the GNA are lower, and the likelihood of renewed civil conflict higher, due to three factors identified this week.

The Government of National Accord’s (GNA) establishment of the Adjabiya-Sirte operations room to coordinate the anti-ISIS campaign from the east, and de-facto reinstatement of Ibrahim Jadhran as head of the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG) in the central region, in tandem with the PFG attack on ISIS in Libya’s oil crescent, signals that a deal has been made between the GNA and local actors in the oil crescent that circumvents Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA). While this dynamic effectively puts the GNA in a firm position to negotiate workable, yet temporary, alliances with rival militias to focus on the fight against ISIS, it threatens to expose the GNA to hijacking by groups that are not under its direct control, and who have no other overlapping interests than the defeat of ISIS in Sirte.

The Government of National Accord’s (GNA) Bunyan Marsus operations room, led by Misratan Colonel Bashir Al Gadi, made significant gains against ISIS this week, advancing to within 30 kilometres of Sirte…On May 30, the Petroleoum Facilities Guard (PFG) made significant gains against ISIS from the east. PFG units took control of a number of oil fields last week, including Al Jabal and Waha Al Waha.

Despite the setbacks suffered at the start of the GNA’s Misratan-led operation to liberate Sirte, as well as the high number of causalities already sustained, militias from Misrata and western Libya continue to join the effort. On 18 May, ISIS outflanked the Misratans at Al Wishka and Buwirat Al Hasoun. Thirty-two fighters from the Bunyan Marsous Operations Room were killed in Buwirat Al Hasoun, and another 50 were injured.

In eastern Libya, the Libyan National Army (LNA) is preparing for a new offensive against the Derna Mujahedeen Shura Council (DMSC) and other jihadists belonging to Al Qaeda and Ansar Al Sharia (AAS). On 11 May, LNA spokesperson Ahmed El Mesmari held a press conference in Benghazi to outline the LNA’s progress in Derna. He […]

Three separate operations rooms to combat ISIS were established last week. It is quite clear that each actor wishes to control the operation to liberate Sirte, rather than genuinely cooperate with its adversaries. On 5 May, the Presidential Council issued its first resolution, establishing a special operations room for military operations against ISIS in the […]

The battle to liberate Sirte from IS was long seen by supporters of the UN deal as the national unity project gelling the rival actors into an internationally supported, locally led anti-ISIS coalition. However current realities appear to paint a different picture. Over the last week, political divisions are shaping the battle as a competitive […]

The sudden ISIS withdrawal from Derna on 20 April, and the lack of combat between ISIS convoys and LNA, has revived suspicions among Derna Mujahedeen Shura Council (DMSC) supporters that the LNA and ISIS are collaborating. Furthermore, the civilian casualties resulting from five consecutive days of LNA airstrikes against DMSC positions in Derna have enflamed […]

The Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG) attacked an ISIS convoy en-route to Bin Jawwad on 16 April, killing ISIS senior commander Abu Hamza Al Jazairi. Al Jazairi is said to have lead ISIS missions in Bin Jawwad and Ras Lanuf. Three other ISIS militants, two Algerians and one Tunisian, were injured in the attack, as the […]

On 12 April, the Libyan Air Force (LAF) conducted an airstrike targeting an ISIS convoy traveling from Sirte towards Sidra. The LAF may soon have a new MiG-23 entering service, following refurbishment and outfitting the plane with new a night vision system, missiles, guided bombs and a refueling system. Multiple airstrikes also occurred in Benghazi […]

The UN-mediated Presidency Council of the Government of National Accord (GNA) arrived at the naval base in Tripoli on 30 March aboard a Libyan Navy boat sailing from Tunisia. Commanders of the Libyan Navy helped secure the safe entry and protection of the Presidency Council on the base. However, the regularised local militias in Souq […]

Nascent anti-ISIS military alliances in both western and eastern Libyan are fraying. On 28 March, a large block of Misrata’s militias issued a statement in favour of the Government of National Accord (GNA) and said they would prepare to mobilise to Tripoli to help secure the GNA. This block was confronted by another group of […]

The anti-ISIS coalition in Derna is showing signs of stress. On 21 March, the day after the Derna Mujahedeen Shura Council (DMSC) released a video the interrogation of captured ISIS members, the DMSC executed eight of the detainees. This act has increased tensions between the groups, as well as their supporters, which has been steadily growing […]

Benghazi In eastern Libya, the Libyan National Army (LNA) continues to consolidate its gains in Benghazi against a coalition of jihadists affiliated with the Benghazi Revolutionary Shura Council (BRSC), Ansar Al Sharia (AAS) and ISIS. The LNA has succeeded in confining these groups to the southwestern areas of the Benghazi, mainly Guwarsha and Ganfuda, as […]

The LNA’s ‘Martyrs’ Blood’ Operation’ launched on 20 February managed to retake strategic locations in Hawari and the University district in South Benghazi last week. LNA aircraft also continued to blockade the city and the coast, targeting any trawlers that have attempted to resupply or medevac fighters. Fighting has still taken place around Benghazi’s cement […]

Eastern Libya The LNA’s ‘Operation Martyr’s Blood’ has had almost unprecedented success. The breakthrough was facilitated by capturing camps 36 & 319 on 21 February. These camps changed hands at least twice in two months. The last time the LNA was able to make such progress in eastern Benghazi, it was quickly stalled and lost […]

Aamaq, one of the ISIS media arms in Sirte, reported on the airstrikes that hit Sirte port on 15 February claiming they were carried out by the Libya Dawn faction from Misrata…In Tripoli, the Special Deterrent Force (SDF) affiliated with the General National Congress announced on 10 February that eight Tunisians were expelled from Libya for suspected ties to ISIS.

Ibrahim Beit al-Mal, the head of the Misrata Military Council (MMC), the local umbrella of all Misratan militias, unveiled preparations to liberate Sirte from ISIS on 6 February… Meanwhile, al-Mal accused the GNC of insincerity, saying the GNC is not serious about fighting ISIS.

Derna The DMSC announced the capture of a cell of 12 ISIS fighters in Derna last week. However, the DMSC, which is leading the combat efforts of city residents in a nominal alliance with LNA units, is reportedly beginning to show signs of discord within its ranks, due to the alleged sympathy of some members […]

The recent controversy surrounding Haftar, combined with international media reports of an imminent western intervention, is threatening to weaken and complicate local anti-ISIS coalitions, in both Eastern and Western regions of Libya. In Eastern Libya, a number of tribes, including the Magherba and Drissi tribes (Hijazi’s tribe), are beginning to question the structure and leadership […]

In Benghazi, the LNA conducted heavy artillery shelling against Sabri, Benghazi on 18 Jan, after the recent assault by ISIS killing 5 LNA soldiers on 17 Jan. LNA Bomb disposal efforts are also ongoing, and the EOD units continue to dismantle aerial bombs to harvest TNT for making their own improvised grenades. In Tripoli, anti-ISIS […]

Local political conflicts in Libya are slowly transforming from a web of tribal and local militia conflicts, into a more binary conflict between local allies and ISIS. However, the consolidation of these alliances continue to be inhibited by deep political divisions, which have the potential of fragmenting unity against ISIS, fuelling its recruitment and expansion. In […]

The ongoing IS attack on Sidra, while representing a grave local and international threat, also represents an important opportunity for the formation of a genuinely Libyan Anti-ISIS coalition… After the HoR-affiliated, Federalist-dominated PFG successfully pushed ISIS out of Sidra on Monday, the head of the force, Ibrahim Jadhran, issued a heated statement attacking Haftar, saying that he is the other side of the ISIS coin, implicitly accusing him of destabilizing Ajdabiya via the latest LNA offensive against local Islamist militias in the city.

Without local ownership and unity behind the GNA, those claiming rightful Jihad against a western imposed colonial government will be vindicated, providing all the ingredients for a potent mix of local ISIS terrorism, civil war and long term chaos in the country.

In Sabratha, after the latest explosion destroying the old intelligence building in the city, the council issued a strong statement and began taking urgent steps to mitigate the threat, implementing a state of emergency throughout the city, establishing a joint operations room, setting up barricades and checkpoints and beginning a registration of all foreigners throughout the city…. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE A PHOTO COLLAGE OF ISLAMIC STATE ACTIONS AND VISUAL MATERIAL FROM THE PAST WEEK, CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS SAFE ZIPFILE.

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced on 14 Dec that the Islamic State group was spreading from its stronghold on the Libyan coast to the interior of the country with the aim of getting access to oil wells.

Al-Hassi was previously the commander of LNA operations in Derna where he has performed well and succeeded in getting anti-ISIS Islamist militias to work together with anti-Islamist Haftar forces. In short, Hassi represents the “broad Mosque” model that is needed to forge any feasible anti-ISIS coaltion in Benghazi.

The wave of assassinations in Ajdabiya is stoking tensions between the Libyan National Army and other factions there.

Clashes continue in Benghazi and Derna with several commanders killed.

In Benghazi, Haftar’s operation Doom forces continue to pound strongholds of the Benghazi Revolutionary Shura Council (BRSC) and allied extremist elements including Ansar Al Sharia and IS with airstrikes, mortars, and heavy artillery.

There was no discernable response to the ISIS threat from the anti-ISIS coalition this week.

Fighting continues on five front in Benghazi. An ISIS commander was captured in Derna and another killed in Ben Jawwad.

Intense fighting continues in Benghazi and Derna while tension between the Petroleum Facilities Guards and the Libyan National Army grows in the oil crescent.

Fighting continues in Benghazi and Derna, while new fighting erupting in Ajdabiyya between Islamist and non-Islamist forces and also between Federalist and pro-Haftar forces.

Intense fighting in Benghazi and tension within and between factions in Derna and the oil crescent.

Fighting continues in Benghazi and Derna.

After horrific ISIS activities in Sirte the previous week, on Wednesday 19 August, the Arab League held an extraordinary meeting in Cairo, offering a general pledge to help Libya in its fight against extremism and terrorism.

The past week saw an armed rebellion against ISIS taking place in Sirte when ISIS killed the Imam of Sirte’s Cordoba Mosque. It was, however, brutally crushed over the course of 48 hours.

During the past week, Haftar has also concentrated his efforts on retaining key support from local tribes and notables, meeting with elders and representatives of tribes from Benghazi, Benina, al-Abiar, Sulouq, al-Tukra and al-Rajma.

In Benghazi, LNA forces aligned with the Tubruq government have launched a series of attacks during the past week.

The Misrata military and local councils called on all brigades to make themselves ready for action while Brigade 166, which withdrew from Sirte a few weeks ago, and is now based in Abu Ghrayn has been placed on high alert.

There has been no significant shift in the balance of power in Benghazi, but LNA forces were able to take advantage of the in-fighting between IS and other militant groups in Derna this week to finally make some advances.

The ease with which IS took over Hawara was surprising given that just last week members of the Awlad Suleiman tribal confederation who make up the majority of tribes in Harawa were declaring their intention to fight back hard.

Egypt and the United Arab Emirates continue to actively support the HoR and the LNA, providing military assistance and equipment despite the UN arms embargo. However, this support is not proving enough and Haftar is making few real gains week on week. This is unlikely to deter either Egypt or the UAE from continuing to […]

For the first time in more than a year, the Operation Dignity-aligned air force conducted a joint operation with Misratan-led troops whilst fighting IS members in Sirte’s countryside. Citizens of Hawara blocked the coastal road.

Reports indicate that Operation Dignity forces and local allies have now managed to take full control of the small Mreisa maritime port located in the south-western suburbs of the city.

In Benghazi, intense fighting and indiscriminate, punitive shelling were registered in the Laithi, Buhdeima, Gharyounis and Gawarsha districts throughout the whole week. In Sirte, isolated clashes continue to erupt between Misratan forces belonging to the 166th battalion and local cells of the IS.

The HoR announced this week that it wants to summon Haftar to question him about the lack of progress in Benghazi. There has been more fighting around Sirte this week as Brigade 166 continues its efforts to dislodge IS from the town.

There was no overt anti-ISIS activity in Libya this week.

The battle for Benghazi intensified again this week after Hafter and his LNA forces announced another major push to oust militants from the city. Both sides suffered significant losses.

Hafter finally made some progress in Benghazi this week, taking almost full control of the notorious Al-Sabri neighbourhood. Fierce fighting also has continued around Sirte prompting Misrata’s Brigade 166 on 4 April to declare a curfew on the town.

Fighting is still raging in Sirte as Operation Sunrise and Brigade 166 continue to battle it out against ISIS. Hafter’s battle for Benghazi continues to drag on with little change in the status quo.

There was no significant anti-ISIS coalition activity in Libya this week.

The HoR formally appointed General Khalifa Haftar the General Commander of the Army, but there was no specific noteworthy actions against IS this week.

The brigade sent by the GNC to Sirte is still believed to be on the outskirts of the town and has not made any attempt to engage militarily. There were reports in the Arabic media this week that Haftar had launched three bombing raids on Sirte on 1 March.

Operation Dignity forces appear to have consolidated their control over the strategic maritime port area in central Benghazi. The Egyptian air force repeatedly targeted Derna in retaliation for the beheading of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians at the hands of radical Jihadists in Sirte affiliated with the Islamic State. The 166th Battalion of the Libyan National Army is reportedly gathering at the entrance of the city of Sirte.

On 16 February Cairo launched bombing raids against the town of Derna in retaliation for the beheading of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians by ISIS militants. The Misratan local council condemned the take over of government buildings in Sirte and called on security forces to do something to halt ISIS’s advance.

Operation Dignity launched in the early hours of Thursday 5 February a new initiative inside Benghazi, labeling it as “the final push” to achieve full control of the city.

On Friday 16 January Libya Dawn and Operation Dignity jointly declared a unilateral general ceasefire with immediate effect. As a result the security threat decreased for all of Libya’s ports, except Benghazi and Derna due to Operation Dignity announcement that it will continue to ‘fight extremists’.

The air force affiliated with Operation Dignity made an unconfirmed claim of having received 4 new Sukhoi Su-27 (Flanker) fighter jets that could significantly boost its operational capabilities.

Haftar claims that the final phase of the battle for the liberation of Benghazi started and that his troops are now dealing mostly with snipers entrenched in densely populated areas.

Operation Shuruq (Sunrise) forces carried out a surprise attack on Sidra’s oil terminal employing speedboats and rockets. Although Operation Dignity forces repelled the attack, one of Operation Shuruq’s rockets fell on an oil storage tank, starting a fire that spread to five tanks.

The battle to control Libya’s energy sector is ongoing and shows little sign of letting up. Although the Misratan led alliance forces that go by the name Libya Sunrise (Shuruq Libiyya) is still on the back foot, it has not given up the fight.

The attack by Misratan forces called operation Shuruq is already being perceived by some as an assault by the west against the east. Indeed, the move is provoking uproar in eastern towns such as Ajdabiyya. Haftar is preparing to take the battle to Derna and is readying himself for a major assault against the town.

News emerged this week that the HoR is set to formalise Haftar’s role even further by appointing him as Commander in Chief of the Libyan Armed Forces.

Although Hafter has the Zintani brigades on board, who like him are now considered to be part of the Libyan national army, this is clearly not sufficient to enable him to secure a win in Tripoli.

Over the past week, the Libyan national army bombed a number of targets west of the capital and announced the closure of ports and airports. Dignity struggled in Benghazi and security in Sirte deteriorated.

Hafter is still struggling to fully defeat the Benghazi Revolutionaries Shura Council that continues to put up a fierce resistance in its traditional strongholds.

General Khalifa Hafter has continued to make progress in Benghazi, consolidating control of more areas of the city and flushing out militants.

General Khalifa Haftar has made further progress in his efforts to ‘liberate’ Benghazi from the grip of Islamist militants.

General Hafter launched a major offensive against his opponents in Benghazi this week. Fierce fighting has continued in the Jebel Nafusa as the Zintani brigades continue their assault against Operation Libya Dawn controlled towns in the area.

The army’s referring to the Zintani brigades as part of its own forces is a new and notable development. Zintani brigades made another attempt to fight back against Operation Libya Dawn this week when they launched an offensive against the town of Kikla in the western mountains.

The Zintani militias are apparently preparing for war against Dawn who just evicted them from the Airport; the head of the Qaqaa Brigade, Othman Mlegta, has gone to Tobruk recently to coordinate the delivery of equipment and define a strategy for a counteroffensive.

World media reported that Hafter made good on his threat to bomb the Benghazi port on Wednesday the 24th.

Al-Thinni’s failure to form a government has revealed the depth of division that exists inside the HoR, particularly between the federalists and the National Forces Alliance (which is itself divided).

Both the HoR and the GNC have continued in their efforts to acquire international support and recognition. Khalifa Haftar announced a major offensive that did not materialize.

Violence has continued in Benghazi where General Khalifa Haftar and those Islamist forces fighting under the umbrella of the Benghazi Revolutionaries Shura Council are locked into a seemingly intractable battle to control Benina Airport. However, the Islamists still very much have the upper hand.

Among the Zintanis’ allies only the Warshefana are currently engaged in hostilities against the Misratan and Islamist bloc.

The HoR responded to the triumph of Operation Libya Dawn by branding its forces as well as those of Ansar Al-Sharia as terrorists. It promoted polarisation mirroring the moves of Operation Dawn. It also created a climate in which ‘moderate’ Islamists like the MB and Misratans were keen to work with the emerging ISIS groups.

Benghazi has been the scene of further violence as General Khalifa Haftar renewed his attacks against Islamist targets in key neighbourhoods of the city. Libyan Air Force (LAF) commander Saccar Jurushi confirmed this week that LAF jets had carried out a number of airstrikes in Derna. Reports emerged on 18 August that several camps belonging to Libya Dawn in Tripoli were the targets of airstrikes. As of yet it is not clear who was responsible for the attack.

Following the series of victories by Islamist militants, fighting under the banner of the Benghazi Revolutionary Shura Council (BRSC), against Libyan National Army Special Forces targets last week, Genral Khalifa Haftar is trying hard to prove that he is not a spent force. Special Forces fighting with Operation Dignity attacked a number of militant bases in the Benghazi neighbourhood of Sidi Faraj this week, clashing with members of Ansar Al-Sharia.

Islamist militants, who are part of the Benghazi Revolutionaries Shura Council (BRSC), staged a major attack on the main Libyan Special Forces (Saiqa) base in Benghazi, overrunning the camp and forcing Saiqa troops to evacuate. The head of the politburo of the Cyrenaican Transitional Council (CTC), Ibrahim Jadhran, who led the protests at the eastern ports, announced his intention this week to set up a military council in Cyrenaica to support Operation Dignity.

Members of the Petroleum Facilities Guard joined Special Forces in Benghazi marking their first foray into direct combat as Islamist forces launched a counterattack against Dignity forces in the city.

This week saw an attack against an Egyptian military post near the border with Libya and Sudan. The attack killed 21 Egyptian border guards and destroyed a weapons storage facility.

General Khalifa Haftar continues to fight militant groups in the East, and thus far shows no sign of making substantive progress.

Clashes erupted in Tripoli’s western suburb of Janzour between members of the Special Operations Force, which belongs to the Interior Ministry, and a revolutionary brigade with Islamist leanings called the Knights of Janzour, which is now part of the Libya Revolutionaries Operations Room (LROR). General Khalifa Haftar continued his assault on Benghazi.

A stalemate emerged between Operation Dignity and Ansar al-Sharia in Benghazi amid heavy fighting. Hundreds of Turkish workers left Libya under threat from Operation Dignity.

The rhetoric on both sides of Operation Dignity intensified on 15 June, when Haftar said that all “terrorists” coming to Libya should leave now or “die here.” In turn, the Grand Mufti called for “revolutionaries” to wage jihad against Haftar and his followers. Heavy fighting in Benghazi and Dignity attacks on boats in the ports of Benghazi and Derna ensued.

Haftar’s forces claimed to have seized half of their targets. Tension over Haftar rose in Tripoli and a Tebu Brigade near Kufra joined Haftar.

Libyan Air Force jets and helicopters struck Islamist positions in Benghazi.

Haftar’s offensive in Benghazi targets Islamists militias such as Feb17 brigade, Rafallah al-Sahati brigade, and Ansar al-Sharia militias. These militias are mainly based on the western side of Benghazi near the main building of Benghazi University in the Gar Younis  and al-Laithi areas. Haftar used ground forces to take on these militias, and it was […]