Libya Situation Update: 26–28 February 2016
Published in
4 min readFeb 29, 2016
- 26 FEB: IS claimed credit for a Suicide Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (SVBIED) attack targeting LNA forces in the Hawari District in Benghazi, allegedly carried out by an IS fighter named Abu Anis al-Ansari (other sources state the bomber was a Tunisian named Abu al-Yazid al-Tunisi). The attack killed four, including a Tawhid al-Salafiya Battalion field commander for the Buhamdiya District. Ansar al-Sharia in Libya (ASL) released a statement stating its forces attacked LNA forces following the SVBIED. LNA forces allegedly seized control of the headquarters of al-Raya Foundation, ASL’s media wing, in Hawari, which ASL previously denied had been taken. ASL also released statements claiming its forces targeted LNA positions in Hawari using 87mm mortars and Type-63 Multiple Rocket Launcher 107mm rockets. (Akhbar Libya 24)(Libya 24 TV)(Ansar al-Sharia Statement)(Ansar al-Sharia Statement)(Ansar al-Sharia Statement)(Ansar al-Sharia Statement)(IS Wilayat Barqa Media Office)(LNA Statement)
- 26 FEB: Sabratha fighters and allied militias retook control of the Souq al-Alalaqa area from IS forces in the vicinity of Sabratha, west of Tripoli, killing 7 IS fighters, including 3 women. Two Sabratha fighter and one al-Zawiya fighter was killed, and 20 wounded. Sabrathan and allied forces also allegedly seized IS positions in the Zawagha area and its surroundings.The Mayor of the Sabratha Municipality stated that Sabrathan and allied forces surrounded IS fighters in a building in on the coastal road as clashed between IS and local forces continued near the western entrance to the city. A female IS member was allegedly arrested wearing an SVEST during the fighting. (Libya 24 TV)(Libya 24 TV)(Libya Observer)(Afrigate)(Afrigate)(LNA Statement)(LNA Statement)(Libya 24 TV)(Akhbar Libya 24)(Twitter)(Twitter)
- 26 FEB: LNA and allied fighters raided the residences of Ajdabiya Shura Council leaders Abriq Mazeq and Bukhamada, on Qalouz Street, seizing explosives and suicide explosive vests (SVESTs) ready for detonation. An anonymous security source also indicated that additional documents and media regarding ASC operations was found, including : a list of ten IS fighters who traveled to Ajdabiya from Nouafiliya to fight with the ASC, information regarding planned suicide bombers (including a Sudanese national arrested in a raid on ASC leader Kilani Bunawara several days ago), ASC leader Saadi al-Nofawli training fighters, and Somali and Niger nationals undergoing sniper training at the al-Siniya Company, south of the city. (Afrigate)(Libya 24 TV)
- 25 FEB: Rada Militia forces released the alleged confession of Mohamed Saad Tajuri (Abu Suleiman), the alleged IS emir in Sabratha arrested in the Tajoura neighborhood of Tripoli on 24 February. From Derna, Tajuri allegedly fought in Iraq after 2003, before returning to Libya and being imprisoned from 2004/2005 through 2011. He joined IS in Sirte, and was appointed as head of IS in Sirte by IS’ alleged Sirte Emir, Ahmed Saleh Al-Hamali (Abu Abdullah). Salem Abdulsalam Ammari, the deputy emir for Sabratha, was also arrested with Tajuri, and is allegedly from Sirte. According to the IS members, IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s representative in Sirte is allegedly a Saudi named Abu Amer Al-Jazrawi. (Libya Herald)
- 27 FEB: Col. Idriss Maadi, Commander of the LNA Western Libya Operations Room, claimed that LNA troops have “surrounded Sabratha” and assisted in the anti-IS fight. He also reported that Zintani hospitals treated many of the wounded in Sabratha. (Twitter)(Twitter)[Analyst Note: It is unlikely that LNA units actually encircled Sabratha although it is possible that they prevented IS maneuver in territory that they control south of the city.]
- 27 FEB: The Tebu and Tuareg tribes conducted a prisoner exchange in Ubari pursuant to the recently signed ceasefire. (al-Wasat)(Fezzan Libya Media Group)(Fezzan Libya Media Group)
- 27 FEB: LNA forces advanced across Benghazi. The 20th Special Operations Battalion cleared the Talha area and allegedly took control of the Cement Factory in Hawari while the 309th Infantry Battalion, reinforced by troops from the 21st Border Guards, advanced in the Qanfouda district of west Benghazi. Additionally LNA helicopters attacked a group of freighters off the coast of Benghazi, destroying three and forcing the fourth to flee. LNA sources allege that the vessels were carrying reinforcements and supplies to the SCBR and were headed towards the Jewel Resort in west Benghazi. (Libya 24 TV)(Afrigate)(LNA Facebook)(LNA Facebook)(al-Wasat)(Libya 24 TV)
- 28 FEB: A convoy of roughly 15 vehicles flying black flags was attacked by unknown aircraft in the Shimikh Valley near Bani Walid. The Pentagon and other U.S. government sources have denied any participation in the attack. Seperately unknown aircraft bombed IS positions near the Sirte Seaport and Sadada. (Reuters)(al-Wasat)(Akhbar Libya 24)(Reuters)
- 28 FEB: IS released a propaganda video entitled “Of Their Goods, Take Alms.” A militant identified as Abu Mohammad al-Ansari speaks on the requirement for zakat before IS members are shown distributing food to the poor. The zakat department is described as having several divisions including administration, sharia, collections, eligibility, records, and financing. Members of the zakat department are shown interacting with individuals needing assistance and collecting their personal and biometric information. (IS Media Office of Tarablus)
