The Operation Room Fighting IS in Sabratha
The main fightings between armed groups in Sabratha are finished. The Operation Room fighting IS (ORfIS) helped with Al Wadi Katiba, the 22nd Al Saiqa and other units as the 103rd battalion based in Tajoura took control of the coastal city. Thousands of migrants were found following the weeks of clashes. Most of them were held in the centres of the Martyrs Anas al-Dabbashi Brigade and Al Ghul militia, both based in Sabratha. Brigades’ leaders had fled the town days before the end of clashes.
In February 2016, the groups were put on the spotlight with the arrests of Ahmed al-Sharaf, Ahmad Abu-Jailah Yahya and Yusuf Yahya — right hand of Haftar al-Dabbashi, IS leader. During this operation, a large quantity of detonators amongst which mobile phones, mines were found. As many groups in Libya, ORfIS claims being neutral in political conflicts, religious and composed only by the “sons of Sabratha”.
Beginning of March, the group of Sabratha arrested an important member of Al-Nimri militia, this group supposedly being responsible of kidnappings, robberies, break-in of fuel stations in Sabratha and Surman. In the same time, they carried out several missions against IS in south of Sabratha, killing a dozen of militants including 2 women. Intelligence gathered with militants arrested, revealed the place where two Italians were hostages. Security forces freed them and found bodies of foreigners nearby clashes. This kind of mission is usually carried out by Special Forces, but at this time there is no reliable information.
Omar Abdul Jalil called upon every officer, non-officers, soldiers and policemen to join the Field Operation Room in Sabratha. He “wished” to be stationed in Dahman area. Afterwards, meetings were held between the field room, brigades, municipality and civil society to create an important room (Libyan Army) composed of every actor, including Martyrs Anas al-Dabbashi unit, for the wounded and killed. Media office released two phone numbers for emergency.In April, Al Wadi, Al Arwa and Al Hish battalions gave armed cars to Field Operation Room. The four are closely working to secure Sabratha since the beginning as the 48th. The “gifts” were also a way to confirm their loyalty to the coalition for fighting IS.
In April, Al Wadi, Al Arwa and Al Hish battalions gave armed cars to Field Operation Room. The four are closely working to secure Sabratha since the beginning the same way as the 48th. The “gifts” were also a way to confirm their loyalty to the coalition for fighting IS.
In June after months of work in Sabratha, the Govermnent National Accord (GNA) recognized the Field Operation Room and named at its head Omar Abdul Jalil. Other names are also cited by GNA such as M’Hamed Mahfoudh M’Hamed Abdeljalil, Fayez Mohamed al-Tayeb, Salah Moustapha, Issa Mohamed Saad Krier, Mohamed Mabrouk al-Mahra — head of Security Directorate — and Ayman al-Mahdi Massoud al-Dabbashi as spokesman.
In September 2016, the room claimed, officialy, that some brigades in Sabratha “headed by Anas al-Dabbashi” did not recognize its authority.
In January, the room named itself “Operation Room fighting the Islamic Sate in Sabratha” following a meeting with local security forces.
The Operation Room carried out raids against, IS militants, oil smugglers as well as police missions in Sabratha.
The municipality of Sabratha held a meeting with the 48th Infantry Battalion, Directorate of National Security (local police), local militias, officials and probably representants of Sabratha military council and officially decided to create the « Operation Room for fighting IS in Sabratha« , led by the Brigadier General Omar Abdul Jalil.
In July 2017, The Operation Room fighting IS was deployed at the entrances of Sabratha following a local agreement signed between the parties, including 48th and Anas Al-Dabbashi because of clashes between the armed groups.
On August 1, the Operation Room fighting IS was deployed and called every soldier, officers and non-officers to join their headquarters; a day later they released an article regarding Italia in Libya.
Soon after, fightings erupted between the Operation fighting IS and local armed groups, as the former took several important positions in Sabratha.
Following several “ceasefire”-type of negotiations, on September 17, clashes in Sabratha reignited following a shooting at a checkpoint and tensions between the armed groups in Western Libya. Two coalitions, one headed by Martyrs Anas al-Dabbashi and the other by Operation Room fighting IS in Sabratha, fighting in town killed more than 40 persons. Clashes included battalions and units from neighbourhood cities.
Some names who were present in the beginning of the Op Room, such as Mohamed Mabrouk al-Mahra — former head of the Security Directorate — who resigned on September 20; as well as the former director of a bank, and persons from Surman, Az Zawiyah and Zuwara have left. They’re being accused by Salafi of being directly or indirectly involved in human and oil smuggling.
According to the last reports, thousands of migrants were arrested by security services in west of Sabratha.
By Tom FNX.
