by admin | Jan 19, 2016 | Libyan actors
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...
by Jason | Jan 12, 2016 | ISIS
The Assault on the Oil Crescent – ‘The Battle of Abu Al Mughira’ The 3 day ISIS assault on oil crescent ports last week was successfully thwarted by the Petroleum Facilities Guard forces (PFG) and local volunteers. Nine PFG forces and around 30 IS members were killed...
by Jason | Jan 12, 2016 | International actors
A high-level meeting was held on 12 January, which included the Italian PM, defense, Intelligence and security ministers, including Italian special forces where Libya was the key agenda item. The meeting may be related to the flash incident in Mellitah complex on 12...
by Jason | Jan 12, 2016 | Other Jihadi Actors
Fighting continues uninterrupted in Ajdabiya between the ARSC militants and Haftar’s LNA forces, although it does not appear as if either side has made significant progress. LNA aircraft continued airstrikes in Ajdabiya, specifically targeting the ‘60’ Gate and the...
by Jason | Jan 12, 2016 | Libyan actors
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,...
by Jason | Jan 5, 2016 | ISIS
The ISIS campaign to advance from Sirte to the ports in the oil crescent region has entered full swing with the 4 January attack on Sidra terminal. The attackers used two suicide trucks (VBIED’s), one destroying the main checkpoint to the terminal and the other in...
by Jason | Jan 5, 2016 | International actors
Although ISIS do not control any oil ports yet, new reports suggest that British SAS Special Forces could be preparing to lead an international team to take back control of any oil fields which would fall under ISIS control. At present this seems infeasible, as the...
by Jason | Jan 5, 2016 | Other Jihadi Actors
In Ajdabiya, a statement published by the Ajdabiya Revolutionaries’ Shoura Council (ARSC) on 2 Jan denied that it has defected to IS, after its emir and a dozen of its members published a video last week pledging allegiance to the group last week. The statement said...
by Jason | Jan 5, 2016 | Libyan actors
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. Despite their political differences, a range of social groups could be...
by Jason | Dec 29, 2015 | ISIS
Sirte ISIS continues to control Sirte, increasing its restrictions on civilians over the course of Christmas week. ISIS told residents that anyone caught celebrating Libya’s independence day, Christmas or New Year’s Eve would be punished. Last week, a young local who...
