According to UN reporting presented on 15 February, AQIM (‘Al-Qaida in Libya’) secures transportation routes to cities for transit or as hideouts in...
AQIM uses southern Libya to transport fighters to Mali: UN report
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Other Jihadi Actors
Our archive of political and security incidents relating to Jihadi actors in Libya such as Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).
TBZ raids farms reportedly stationed with terrorist groups in the South
On 29 June, the Libyan National Army’s (LNA) Tariq Bin Ziyad Brigade (TBZ) announced that it had raided a farm where terrorist groups were...
BRSC elements raid External Security Agency in Tripoli
On 19 May, the External Security Agency near Souq al-Jumaa and al-Fatteh was reportedly raided by militias affiliated to the Benghazi...
LNA 106 Brigade conducts raids near Murzuq against terrorists
On 18 May, the Libyan National Army’s (LNA) 106 Brigade reportedly raided a camp in Wadi Otbh (approximately 50km north-west of Murzuq), arresting a...
GNU forces deployed to southern border for counterterroism operation
On 8 February, it was reported that GNU-aligned forces had been deployed to Libya’s southern border to conduct counterterrorism operations.
LNA arrests gang trading arms with jihadi groups in Algeria and Mali
On 20 January, the LNA’s Commander of the Moral Guidance Department, Khaled Mahjoub, reported that the 106 Brigade had arrested members of a gang...
LNA’s 106 Brigade conducts counterterrorism operation against cells in Sebha
On 28 November, the Libyan National Army’s (LNA) 106 Brigade reportedly conducted a security operation against terrorist elements in Sebha,...
LNA claims to have arrested al-Qaeda suspect in South-West
On 3 September, the LNA-aligned Tariq Bin Ziyad Brigade (TBZ Brigade) arrested a suspected al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) operative,...
Misrata Special Task Force conducts security operation against suspected terrorists
On 1 September, the Misratan Special Task Force conducted a security operation against ‘extremist and terrorist’ elements in the 11 July area,...
LNA’s 128 Brigade seizes weapons to be smuggled to Mali and Niger
On 23 August, the Libyan National Army (LNA) 128 Brigade reported that it had seized weapons that were being smuggled to ‘armed groups and...
MoI leak claims terrorists stationed at Watiya airbase plan attack in Tunisia
On 21 August, a document dated 19 August belonging to the Government of National Unity (GNU) Ministry of Interior (MoI) was leaked detailing...
LNA conducts reconnaissance flights over Fezzan
On 27 July, the Libyan National Army (LNA) reportedly conducted reconnaissance flights over Jufra, northern Fezzan, having received intelligence...
LNA arrests AQIM militants near Brak al-Shatti
On 2 June, local news sources reported that the Libyan National Army (LNA)-affiliated Tarik Bin Ziyad brigade and the Government of National Unity...
Arrests of ‘terrorists’ for Janzour Naval Academy bombing
On 8 February, the Government of National Accord’s (GNA’s) Internal Security Agency arrested members of a ‘criminal terrorist organisation’...
Egyptian nationals accused of joining terrorist groups in Libya
On 17 January, it was reported that charges have been laid by Egyptian prosecutors against three Egyptian nationals accused of joining terrorist...
16-22 December: No relevant developments
No relevant developments.
9-15 December: Manchester bomber alleged to have received training from Libyan militias
On 8 December, the Guardian reported that the Manchester Arena bomber, Salman Abedi, may have trained and fought with Islamist militias in Libya during the 2011 revolution.
1-8 December: No relevant developments
No relevant developments.
25 November – 1 December: LNA detains AQIM members
On 28 November, the spokesman of the LNA, Mismari, announced that the LNA detained at least seven AQIM members.
18 – 24 November: No relevant developments.
No relevant developments.
11 – 17 November: No relevant developments.
No relevant developments.
4 – 10 November: No relevant developments.
No relevant developments.
28 October – 3 November: No relevant developments.
No relevant developments.
21 – 27 October: No relevant developments.
No relevant developments.
14 –20 October: Three potential terrorists entered Murzuq
On 16 October, conflicting reports emerged suggesting that three individuals associated with either ISIS, al-Qaeda or Chadian mercenaries entered Murzuq.
7 –13 October: No relevant developments.
No relevant developments.
30 September – 6 October: LNA claims to have captured terrorist cell
On 3 October, the LNA’s 116 Infantry Brigade claimed to have captured a ‘terrorist cell’.
23 – 29 September: No relevant developments.
No relevant developments.
16 – 22 September: No relevant developments.
No relevant developments.
9 – 15 September: No relevant developments.
No relevant developments.
2 September – 8 September: No relevant developments.
No relevant developments.
26 August – 1 September: Suspected failed suicide bombing
On 1 September, a suspected failed suicide bombing occurred close to a GNA-aligned checkpoint in western Tripoli.
19 – 25 August: No relevant developments.
No relevant developments.
12 – 18 August: No relevant developments.
No relevant developments.
5 – 11 August: BDB commander allegedly in Turkey
On Libyan social media a photo of BDB commander Ziyad Balaam in Turkey is circulated with a new prosthetic limb.
29 July – 4 August: Journalist convicted on vague terrorism charges
On 31 July, a military court in Ajdabiya sentenced Ismail Bouzreeba al-Zway, a local photojournalist, to 15 years in prison on charges related to Islamist ‘terrorism.’
22 – 28 July: No relevant developments.
No relevant developments.
15 – 21 July: US Defence Department publishes report on Syrian fighters in Libya
On 16 July, a report published by the US Defence Department inspector general asserted that the Syrian fighters in Libya were ‘very likely’ motivated by money.
8-14 July: Rada arrests al-Qaida suspect
On 10 July, Rada arrested a suspected al-Qaida member in the Zawiyat al-Dahmani area of Tripoli.
1 July – 7 July: Families of detained BRSC fighters protest
On 28 June, families of BRSC fighters detained for fighting against the LNA in Benghazi protested outside the courts in Sidi Saleem.
24 June – 30 June: Suspected AQ member arrested in Tripoli
On 23 June, the Counter-Terrorism Unit of the Joint Security Operations Room, in cooperation with the GNA arrested a Tunisian national suspected of being an al-Qaeda member in Tripoli’s Old City. On 29 June, Macron accused Ankara of ‘importing’ jihadists to Libya.
17 June – 23 June: Attack by Libyan claimed to be terrorist act
On 20 June, Libyan national Saadallah was arrested after stabbing multiple people in a park in Reading. He was initially arrested on suspicion of murder, but he has now been rearrested under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
10 June – 16 June: Werfalli calls for jihad
On 14 June, a video emerged with LNA Commander al-Werfalli calling on LNA forces to take their actions to Sirte and lead an assault towards Misrata.
3 June – 9 June: France kills emir of AQIM
On 5 June, French forces killed the emir of AQIM in northern Mali.
27 May – 2 June: No relevant developments.
No relevant developments.
20 May – 26 May: LNA claims former LIFG members is head of LIS
Throughout the last fortnight there have been reports from pro-LNA media and social media accounts claiming that prominent LIFG leader, Khalid al-Sharif, has been assigned as the head of the GNA’s LIS.
13 May – 19 May: No relevant developments.
No relevant developments.
6 May – 12 May: No relevant developments.
No relevant developments.
29 April – 5 May: Egyptian militant arrested by LNA
On 22 April, the LNA arrested suspected Egyptian militant Mohammed Mohamed al-Sayed aka Mohammed al-Senbekhti aka Abu Khaled Munir. It has been suggested that Senbekhti’s extradition to Egypt is being negotiated.
22 – 28 April: BRSC and DMSC fighters killed
On 20 April, members of the BRSC and DMSC alleged to be fighting for the GNA-aligned forces were killed near Sadawi.
15 – 21 April: al-Ghariyani calls for continued fighting against LNA
On 15 April, Grand Mufti Sadiq al-Ghariyani called on fighters in a television interview to continue to fight against the LNA. The same day, UNSMIL released a statement expressing their concerns over the alleged release of 401 prisoners “without adequate legal proceedings or vetting” from Sabratha and Surman.
8 – 14 April: BRSC commander allegedly fighting in Sabratha
BRSC commander, Faraj Shakku, is thought to have participated in the GNA-aligned forces’ capture of Sabratha and Surman on 13 April.
1 – 7 April: Rada allegedly releases jihadi prisoners
On 30 March, unverified Libyan news reports claimed the Tripoli-based Rada force released five members of the BRSC and the DRSC. On 6 April, the LNA claimed that a BRSC member was killed on the Wadi Rabea axis on the southern Tripoli frontlines.
25 – 31 March: Two NOC employees freed by LNA
On 30 March, two employees of the NOC who were kidnapped from Sharara oil field in southwest Libya in 2018 by unknown assailants were freed by LNA forces.
18 – 24 March: BDB commander severely injured
On 19 March, a BDB commander, Ziyad Belaam, was severely injured while fighting against LNA forces on the Ain Zara axis in southern Tripoli.
11 – 17 March: Scotland agrees to appeal of Libyan ‘guilty’ of Lockerbie bombing
The conviction of the only man found guilty of the 1988 Lockerbie aircraft bombing has been referred for an appeal to Scotland’s High Court of Justiciary.
4 March – 10 March: AQIM confirms death of prominent leader in Libya
On 4 March, Egypt executed the former Egyptian Special Force officer turned al-Qaeda affiliate Hisham Ashmawy. On 28 February, AQIM confirmed the death of prominent leader, Abdul Moneim Salem al-Hasnawi aka Abu Tahla al-Hasnawi, in Libya.
26 February – 3 March: No relevant developments.
No relevant developments.
19 – 25 February: No relevant developments.
No relevant developments.
12 – 18 February: No relevant developments.
No relevant developments.
5 – 11 February: Potential Jihadi Attack in Tripoli
On 10 February, a bombing targeted the Ascending General School in the Abu Issa area of Tripoli. It is unclear who carried out the attack.
29 January – 4 February 2020: Egyptian court sentences Hisham al-Ashmawy to death
On 1 February, an Egyptian court sentenced former Egyptian special forces officer and alleged Islamist militant, Hisham al-Ashmawy, to death.
22 – 28 January 2020: Al-Iman sentenced to 19 years in prison for 2012 Benghazi attack
The Libyan citizen Mustafa al-Iman was sentenced to more than 19 years in prison for his role in the 2012 terrorist attack on two U.S. government facilities in Benghazi that killed four Americans.
15 – 21 January 2020: No notable developments.
No notable developments.
8 – 14 January 2020: No notable developments
No notable developments.
1 – 7 January: No notable developments.
No notable developments.
18 – 31 December 2019: No notable developments.
No notable developments.
12 – 17 December 2019: Unconfirmed reports of released BRSC fighters
During the last week, unconfirmed reports circulated suggesting Tripoli’s Rada released 29 members of the BRSC. This follows calls from Grand Mufti Sadiq al-Gharyani to release BRSC and DMSC fighters.
4 December – 10 December 2019: Two Benghazi Revolutionary Shura Council members arrested
On 2 December, anti-LNA forces allegedly arrested two Benghazi Revolutionary Shura Council (BRSC) members who attacked the Central Support Forces of Tajoura.
27 November – 3 December 2019: Egyptian Military Criminal Court sentences Hisham al-Ashmawy to death
On 26 November, seven members of the DMSC were arrested. On 27 November, the Egyptian Military Criminal Court ruled that Hisham al-Ashmawy would be sentenced to death. On 29 November, two alleged members of the BRSC were said to have been killed in Muwajat al-Juma in the southern Tripoli frontlines.
20 – 26 November 2019: GNA Minister issues arrest warrant for Emad Faraj Mansour al-Shoqabi
On 24 November, GNA Minister of Interior Bashaagha called for the arrest of Emad Faraj Mansour al-Shoqabi, an individual suspected of coordinating between Ansar al-Sharia and ISIS.
13 November – 19 November: Egyptian court sentences Abdel Rahim al-Mismari to death
On 17 November, an Egyptian court sentenced to death Libyan terrorist Abdel Rahim al-Mismari for the attack on the Wahat Road checkpoint in October 2017.
6 – 12 November: Further allegations of BDB fighters on the frontlines in Tripoli
On 10 November, pro-LNA media outlets reported new claims of BDB fighters being on the frontlines in Tripoli.
30 October – 5 November: LNA claims member of the DMSC is fighting among anti-LNA forces
On 2 November, the LNA claimed a member of the Derna Mujahideen Shura Council (DMSC) is fighting in Tripoli among anti-LNA forces. On 31 October, LNA units reportedly arrested a sleeper cell consisting of Benghazi Revolutionaries Shura Council (BRSC) members in Wadi al-Bawanis.
23 – 29 October: Benghazi Defence Brigade forces observed near Umm al-Aranib
On 25 October, military vehicles thought to belong to the Benghazi Defence Brigade (BDB) were observed south of Umm al-Aranib.
16 October – 22 October: Photos circulate online claiming BDB commander at southern Tripoli frontlines
On 16 October, undated photos circulated on social media suggesting Zeyad Belaam, the founder of the Benghazi Defence Brigades (BDB) was fighting alongside anti-LNA coalition forces on the frontlines of Tripoli.
9 – 15 October: LNA concerned that Turkey will send terrorists from Syria to fight in Libya
On 13 October, an LNA commander expressed concern that Turkey might attempt to transfer hundreds of extremists belonging to Jabhat al-Nusra from northern Syria to western Libya, via Turkey, to fight amongst the anti-LNA coalition.
2– 8 October: No significant developments
No significant developments.
25 September – 1 October: Unverified claims of AQIM affiliate killed in AFRICOM airstrikes
In the wake of US AFRICOM airstrikes targeting ISIS fighters in southern Libya, unverified claims circulated on social media suggesting AQIM-affiliate, Ahmed Abdul-Jaleel al-Hasnawi had also been killed in the operations.
18 – 24 September: AFRICOM drone circled over AQIM hotspot in southern Libya
Prior to a US AFRICOM airstrike targeting ISIS fighters near Murzuq on 19 September, a drone was also suspected to have flown over the Wadi Ajal and Ghat, an Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) hotspot
11 September – 17 September: Alleged Ansar al-Sharia affiliate killed in southern Tripoli
On 15 September, an alleged Ansar al-Sharia affiliate, Yousef Abdul Salam Tarhouni (aka Yousef al-Akbab) was killed during an aerial attack on the defunct Tripoli International Airport in southern Tripoli.
4 September – 10 September: Multiple alleged jihadists killed in Tripoli
On 7 September, media sources claimed that a former senior member of the Benghazi Shura Council, Salem-al-Zayani, was killed in clashes in southern Tripoli. On 7 September, media outlets reported that Islam Saleh Hassan al-Hassadi (aka Barjum) had been killed in the fighting on the Ain Zara Axis of Tripoli. On 7 September, Al-Fitouri Nasr Muhamed Dabbashi was reportedly killed on the Ain Zara Axis in southern Tripoli.
28 August – 3 September: No notable incidents occurred this week
No notable incidents occurred this week.
21 – 27 August: Old video of cleric calling Syria fighters to Libya resurfaces online
On 20 August, a video was circulated on Libyan social media showing Abdullah al-Muhaysini, a Salafi cleric linked with al-Qaeda affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, calling on fighters in Syria to travel to Libya to fight against the LNA. However, this video was released in April of this year.
14 – 20 Aug: Chinese engineers kidnapped near Qatroun
On 16 August, an unknown armed group kidnapped two Chinese nationals in the desert 75 km south of the border town of Qatroun in southwest Libya.
6 – 13 Aug: Car bomb in Benghazi kills UN staff
On 10 August, a car bomb in the Hawari area of Benghazi targeting a UN convoy killed at least three UN staff members. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.
31 Jul – 6 Aug: South African captured in Libya by AQ-linked group pleads for release
GNA-aligned factions have condemned and denied claims there are terrorists fighting within their ranks. On 3 August, BDB member Ali Abdulhafiz al-Zindli was reportedly killed in an LNA airstrike. On 5 August, a video emerged showing a South African who has been held captive in Libya since 2017 when he was seized by a splinter group linked to al-Qaeda.
24 July – 30 July: Security forces arrest al-Qaeda leaders in Tripoli suburb
On 24 July, the Misratan Joint Security Force undertook a dawn raid against alleged al-Qaeda leaders in an undisclosed suburb of Tripoli. The GNA’s interior ministry stated that those arrested were connected to attacks launched in Tripoli.
17 July – 23 July: Hashem Abedi extradited from Libya to the UK
On 17 July, Hashem Abedi, the brother of the suicide bomber Salman Abedi who blew himself up at a concert the British city of Manchester in May 2017, was extradited from Libya to the UK.
10 July – 16 July: “Paid traitors” alleged to be responsible for Benghazi bombing
On 11 July, three explosive packages were detonated at the Huwari cemetery in Benghazi during the funeral of a former Special Forces commander under Qadhafi, Khalifa Mismari. According to the LNA spokesperson, Ahmed Mesmari, four people were killed and 33 wounded in the attack.
3 July – 9 July: Sabratha security forces arrest alleged extremist cell
On 7 July, Libyan National Army (LNA)-aligned security forces in Sabratha reportedly arrested an extremist sleeper cell with a trove of weapons and ammunition planning to launch a terrorist attack in Sabratha. On 6 July, Benghazi Shura Council militia forces were observed moving within the vicinity of Sirte.
26 June – 2 July: Alleged prominent al-Qaeda member fighting in Tripoli
On 23 June, unconfirmed reports suggested a prominent Al-Qaeda member, Adel Al-Hanashi, has been fighting against the LNA in the Tripoli suburb of Aziziyah.
19 June – 25 June: Egyptian jihadist captured in Libya put on trial
On 25 June, Egyptian jihadist captured in Libya, Hisham el-Ashmawy, was put on trial in a military country in Egypt for his involvement in five terrorist attacks.
12 June – 18 June: Libyan found guilty on two terrorism-related charges in US court
On 13 June, a jury in a federal court in Washington found Mustafa al-Imam guilty on two terrorism-related charges in relation to the attack on a US diplomatic compound in Benghazi in 2012.
5 – 11 June: Three-year sentence for “Returnees from Libya” case
On 10 June, an Egyptian court sentenced two men to three years in jail in what has been dubbed the “Returnees from Libya” case, with the convicted accused of participating in terrorism outside of Egypt.
29 May – 4 June: Hisham al-Ashmawy handed over to Egyptian authorities
On 28 May, the LNA transferred former Egyptian Special Forces officer turned Egyptian jihadist, Hisham al-Ashmawy, over to Egyptian authorities. On 30 May, alleged member of the Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries Abdel Salam Abou Rzaiza was killed in southern Tripoli. On 30 May, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonated near the Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID) headquarters in Derna, without any casualties reported. On 2 June, two vehicle-borne IEDs targeting the LNA’s Awilat al-Dam and Omar al-Mukhtar Operations Room headquarters left as many as 18 people injured.
22 May – 28 May: Ansar al-Sharia linked fighter connected to 2012 US Consulate attack killed in Tripoli
On 24 May, Libyan National Army forces killed Mohamed Mohamed Mahmoud Bin Dardaf, also known as “Al-Babour” in the al-Naqleya district of Tripoli. A former prisoner in the Abu Salim prison, Dardaf has been linked to the Raf Allah al-Shati Brigade and Ansar al-Sharia in Benghazi.
15 May – 21 May: Al-Qaeda member thought killed in LNA aerial attack
On 16 May, unconfirmed reports suggest an al-Qaeda member, Musab Mohammed Kamuka, was killed in the LNA’s aerial attack on the headquarters of the Farouk militia in Zawiyya on 13 May.
8 May – 14 May: HoR designates the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist group
On 13 May, the HoR voted to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group. The HoR believes the Muslim Brotherhood is assisting armed groups and terrorist in Tripoli.
1 May – 7 May: Gunmen with alleged terrorist connections attack Sebha Medical Centre
On 7 May, four gunmen with alleged terrorist connections attacked the Sebha Medical Centre in the earlier hours of the morning. Local security forces killed two of the assailants.