by Jason | Aug 9, 2016 | Other Jihadi Actors
As political constellations are being reformed across Libya, the gap separating ISIS from non-ISIS jihadis are closing as both are finding common ground in their anti-Haftar and anti-Western aims. The gap separating BRSC (as a political faction fighting Haftar in...
by Jason | Aug 9, 2016 | Libyan actors
A shared military front has not materialized and is unlikely to materialize, because ISIS’s opponents have never made a coherent political coalition against it. At the time of writing (early August 2016), divisions between Haftar’s LNA, the GNA’s Banyan Marsus, and...
by Jason | Aug 1, 2016 | ISIS
After fierce fighting on 28-30 July, the Misratan-led Bunyan Marsus coalition took full control of the Hay Dollar area in Sirte. Bunyan Marsus forces seized an artillery ammunition cache in the area, and are currently fortifying their positions there. Fighting...
by Jason | Aug 1, 2016 | Libyan actors
In Benghazi, the Libyan National Army (LNA) captured the symbolic Guwarsha checkpoint from Islamist militants on 28 July. The Islamists retaliated fiercely, including a suicide car bomb attack on 29 July that killed two LNA soldiers wounded another four. The attack...
by Jason | Aug 1, 2016 | Other Jihadi Actors
The rising tide of dissatisfaction with the Government of National Accord (GNA) in western Libya is fueling the momentum of hardline Islamists and anti-GNA factions who held demonstrations on 29 July in Tripoli. The demonstration took place in Martyrs’ Square,...
by Jason | Aug 1, 2016 | International actors
On 25 July, the Bunyan Marsus operations room officially recommended the Presidential Council call for US Airstrikes on ISIS targets inside Sirte. On 1 August, Government of National Accord (GNA) Prime Minister Fayez Serraj made a televised speech announcing the...
by Jason | Jul 25, 2016 | ISIS
In western Libya, the Misratan-led Bunyan Marsus coalition made more gains against ISIS this week in Sirte. The coalition took control of the Hay El Dollar and Area “2” while continuing to conduct airstrikes against ISIS positions in the Ouagadougou complex. Despite...
by Jason | Jul 25, 2016 | Libyan actors
On 22 July, large demonstrations took place in Tripoli, Misrata, Zawiyya, Zuwara and others denouncing the discovery of French fighters acting in coordination with Khalifa Haftar as evidence of a French invasion, and breaching of the internationally recognized...
by Jason | Jul 25, 2016 | Other Jihadi Actors
Over the last two weeks, the Benghazi Defense Brigade (BDB) advanced to within 60 kilometers east of Benghazi, before reportedly retreating back to its base in Jufra, Libya on 22-23 July. The militia, which has enjoyed rising support in western Libya after it managed...
by Jason | Jul 25, 2016 | International actors
On 21 July, French President Francois Hollande confirmed three French special forces soldiers had died in the downing of a Libyan National Army (LNA) helicopter on 17 July. The event, and subsequent revelation, unleashed large demonstrations on 22 July in a number of...
