by Jason | May 23, 2016 | Other Jihadi Actors
Tripoli, and the western region as a whole, is witnessing a marked increase in kidnappings and murders of civilians and officials alike. A high profile member of a reconciliation group was found murdered outside of his home on 19 May, while the head of the Libyan...
by Jason | May 23, 2016 | International actors
Last week, US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford said that the Government of National Accord (GNA) is in a “period of intense dialogue” that could soon lead to an agreement in which US military advisers will be deployed to Libya, in addition to...
by Jason | May 23, 2016 | Libyan actors
Three interlinked conflict dynamics are discernible from last week’s developments on the ground: 1) increased lawlessness and militia rivalry in Tripoli and the western region; 2) increasing momentum of the Government of National Accord’s (GNA) Misratan-led assault on...
by Jason | May 16, 2016 | ISIS
ISIS now controls almost 300 kilometres of Libyan coastline and has expanded its control to seven other towns 150 kilometres west and southwest of Sirte. Residents of Sirte have reported tighter ISIS security measures, in addition to widespread stockpiling of food and...
by Jason | May 16, 2016 | International actors
This week, Western powers opted to loosen their policies toward Libya in order to support the Government of National Accord (GNA) and combat the expansion of ISIS. At a meeting in Vienna on 16 May, the US and its European and regional partners agreed to supply the...
by Jason | May 16, 2016 | Other Jihadi Actors
Despite the expulsion of ISIS from Derna, a return to normalcy is likely to take longer than expected, due to the threat of a new conflict between the Libyan National Army (LNA) and the Derna Mujahedeen Shura Council (DMSC). The LNA announced that operation “Burkan”...
by Jason | May 16, 2016 | Libyan actors
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...
by Jason | May 9, 2016 | ISIS
A surprise ISIS attack on Misratan Military Council forces in Abu Grein this week has allowed ISIS to capture several towns southwest of Sirte and rapidly institute its control over the local population. The attack, which occurred on 5 and 6 May, included two suicide...
by Jason | May 9, 2016 | International actors
This week, British and Italian leaders contemplated the possibility of providing military support to the Government of National Accord (GNA), but have maintained that the conditions for an international intervention are not yet favourable. Italian Foreign Minister...
by Jason | May 9, 2016 | Other Jihadi Actors
ISIS has fully withdrawn from Derna after a year of intense battles with the Derna Mujahedeen Shura Council and the Libyan National Army (LNA), who had forged a tenuous alliance against ISIS. This is a real victory for non-ISIS jihadi actors and the LNA. In fact,...
