ISIS in action
Tracking developments of ISIS activity and the anti-ISIS coalition in Libya.
14 – 20 Aug: Suspected ISIS recruiter arrested in Ajdabiya
On 18 August, the Internal Security Agency in Ajdabiya arrested suspected terrorist Issa al-Shaghri (aka Issa Kaba) upon his return to the city to allegedly plan terror operations.
6 – 13 Aug: Misratan forces arrest 2 ISIS members in Sirte
On 6 August, the Misrata Counter-Terrorism force arrested two suspected Islamic State (ISIS) operatives, Ismail Omran and Hatem Ismal Thuraya, in Sirte.
31 Jul – 6 Aug: Misratan force arrests ISIS member in Sirte
On 3 August, the Misratan Counter-Terrorism Force, with the assistance of the Sirte Protection Force (SPF), claimed to have arrested an alleged member of ISIS in Sirte.
24 July – 30 July: ISIS religious police member arrested in Derna
On 26 July, the LNA announced the arrest of an alleged member of Islamic State’s (ISIS) religious police in the Shiha neighbourhood of Derna. On 29 July, the 24th report of the UN’s ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida/Taliban Monitoring Team was published.
17 July – 23 July: Former Iraqi Minister claims al-Baghdadi is hiding in Libya
On 16 July, former Iraqi Minister Baqr Jaber al-Zubeidi claimed Islamic State (ISIS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is hiding in Libya. Al-Zubeidi suggests ISIS has shifted it focus to North Africa in an attempt to establish a new caliphate in the region.
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.
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.
26 June – 2 July: US suggest ISIS making “small resurgence” in central Libya
On 26 June, the US Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Paul Selva, stated the US administration is seeing a “small resurgence” of ISIS in Libya’s central region following the LNA’s assault on the capital in April.
19 June – 25 June: ISIS publish details of its clashes with LNA near Harouj Mountains
On 23 June, ISIS published its latest al-Naba newsletter no. 187 which included details of its clashes with Libyan National Army (LNA) forces west of the Harouj mountains. On 21 June, ISIS claimed 3 attacks and resulting in 53 casualties in its “Libya Wilayat” between 14 and 20 June.