by Jason | Sep 20, 2016 | Libyan actors
On 18 September, Jadhran’s Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG) (and in theory GNA-affiliated) forces launched a counter attack against the Ras Lanuf and Sidra oil ports, with the support of anti-Haftar Islamist militias. The LNA succeeded in repelling the counter attack...
by Jason | Sep 13, 2016 | ISIS
In Sirte last week, the Misratan-led Bunyan al-Marsus (BM) forces started a slow advance on the ‘Hay al-Jiza al-Bahriya’ area, and the ‘600 flats’ residential area. They came under sustained fire from Islamic State (ISIS) snipers positioned on the roofs of the flats,...
by Jason | Sep 13, 2016 | International actors
In response to the LNA’s takeover of the ports in the oil crescent on 11 September, the UN Envoy to Libya, the EU and the governments of USA, Britain, France, Germany, Spain and Italy all issued statements on 12 September condemning the LNA’s seizure of the ports and...
by Jason | Sep 13, 2016 | Other Jihadi Actors
In Derna, tensions between the Derna Mujahedeen Shura Council (DMSC) jihadist forces controlling the city, and the LNA continue to escalate. On 8 September, the DMSC clashed with LNA units south-west of Derna (in al-Dahr al-Hamr area) in an attempt to push the LNA...
by Jason | Sep 13, 2016 | Libyan actors
On 11 September, General Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) announced and launched a secretive military operation named Sudden Lightening, and by 12 September the LNA had taken full military control of the Oil Crescent. Ras Lanuf, Sidra and Zuetina oil ports...
by Jason | Sep 5, 2016 | ISIS
In Sirte, the Government of National Accord’s (GNA) Misratan-led Al-Bunyan Al-Marsus (BM) forces continued to make more gains against Islamic State (ISIS). On 30 August they fully took control of the ‘first’ residential area, and on 2 September they moved against the...
by Jason | Sep 5, 2016 | International actors
On 31 August President Obama extended US operations in Sirte for an additional 30 days in order to ensure that the al-Bunyan al-Marsus forces are able to take full control of Sirte. Despite the growing tensions and fracturing within Libya’s key political institutions,...
by Jason | Sep 5, 2016 | Other Jihadi Actors
In Derna, tensions between the jihadist forces controlling the city and the LNA are escalating. The Derna Shura Mujahedeen Council (DMSC) published a statement on 2 September eulogizing three of its fighters who died in an explosion in Derna, after bombs in their...
by Jason | Sep 5, 2016 | Libyan actors
The GNA’s Presidential Council (PC) failed to meet with all its members to agree a new cabinet line-up before the ten day limit set by the House of Representatives (HoR) to form a new government expired. Nevertheless, two of the three boycotting PC members have...
by Jason | Aug 29, 2016 | ISIS
In Sirte, fighting halted last week but resumed fiercely on 27 August. The break in the fighting was reportedly to allow wives and children of ISIS fighters to exit the conflict zone towards the southwest, though there is no evidence confirming this actually took...