Derna campaign (2014–2016)
Part of the Second Libyan Civil War
and the military intervention against ISIL

The view of Derna from a hilltop
Date5 October 2014 – 21 April 2016
(1 year, 6 months, 2 weeks and 2 days)
(ISIL presence since early 2014)[1]
Location
Derna, Libya
Result Shura Council of Mujahideen in Derna victory
Territorial
changes
  • ISIL militants capture parts of Derna and begin operating courts, schools, radio and administrative facilities.[2]
  • The Libyan government captures villages and roads leading to Derna and implements a naval blockade of the city, while carrying out occasional airstrikes.
  • Egypt carries out airstrikes in February 2015, in response to ISIL's beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians.
  • Clashes erupt between the Shura Council of Mujahideen in Derna and ISIL in June 2015, with ISIL being expelled from the city by late July 2015, but ISIL again entered Derna in December 2015.
  • ISIL began redeploying forces from its positions on the outskirts of Derna to other parts of Libya in April 2016.[3]
Belligerents
Libyan parliament
Egypt Egypt
(airstrikes)[4]
 United States
(airstrikes)[5]		  Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant[6] Shura Council of Mujahideen in Derna[7]
Commanders and leaders

Khalifa Haftar
(Field Marshal of the Libyan National Army)
Aguila Saleh Issa
(President of the Libyan House of Representatives)
Brig. Gen.
Saqr Geroushi
(Commander of the Libyan Air Force)
Air Mshl Younes Hamed
(Commander of the Egyptian Air Force)

  • Abu Abdul Rahman al-Makki
    (Commander and Shaykh of the Ayn Marah Martyrs Brigade)
 Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
(Leader of ISIL)
Abu Nabil al-Anbari †
(ISIL commander of North Africa)[8]

Mohammed Abdullah
(Top ISIL judge in Derna)[6]
Salah Benali †
(Shura Council of Islamic Youth leader in Derna)[9]
Sofian Qumu (POW) (Senior ISIL commander)[10]		 Salim Derby † (Leader of the Abu Salim Martyrs Brigade)
[11][12][13]
Hassan al-Mansouri † (Commander of the Shura Council of Mujahideen in Derna)[14]
Hussam al-Nawaisri † (former leader of the Shura Council of Mujahideen in Derna)[15]
Units involved

 Libya

Egypt Egypt

 Wilayah Barqah[2][9][17] Abu Salim Martyrs Brigade[18]
Strength
Unknown

Military of ISIL

  • 1,100 fighters[2]
 Over 1,100 fighters[19]
Casualties and losses
LNA:[14]
14 fighters executed
in Sabha[20][21]
Several militiamen deserted[22]		 83+ fighters
killed[2][4][23]
20 fighters
injured[2]
55 fighters
captured[24]
6 fighters
sentenced to death[25] and executed[26]		 SCMD: 8 killed
(Battle against LNA)[14]
13 killed and
48 wounded
(Battle against ISIL at Kurfat Sebaa)[27]

3 civilians executed by ISIL forces[28][29][30]

In October 2014, the self-declared Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) took control of numerous government buildings, security vehicles and local landmarks in the Eastern Libyan coastal city of Derna.[33] Although some media outlets reported the control as being absolute, rival groups like the al-Qaeda-affiliated Abu Salim Martyrs Brigade continued to control parts of the city.[34][35] Clashes erupted between ISIL and an alliance of Islamist groups in June 2015,[10][36] with ISIL retreating from Derna to outlying suburbs the following month.[23] However, clashes continued between the Islamist alliance and the Tobruk-based government forces.

Background

The city of Derna has a history of Islamic radicalism. In 2007, American troops in Iraq uncovered a list of foreign fighters for the Iraqi insurgency and of the 112 Libyans on the list, 52 had come from Derna.[37] Derna contributed more foreign fighters per capita to al-Qaeda in Iraq than any city in the Middle East and the city has also been a major source of fighters in the Syrian Civil War and escalation of the Iraqi insurgency, with 800 fighters from Derna joining ISIL.[2]

Events

ISIL takeover of Derna

On 5 October 2014, the ISIL-linked militant factions came together and pledged allegiance to ISIL. After the pledging ceremony, more than 60 pickup trucks filled with fighters cruised through the city in a victory parade.[38] A second more formal gathering took place on 30 October, where militants gathered to pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in the city square, where a handmade bomb was detonated.[39]

Libyan airstrikes and planned assault

On 12 November 2014, Libyan Air Force fighter jets carried out airstrikes in Derna, possibly in retaliation for the car bombs, which exploded in Benghazi, Tobruk and the Labraq Airport. Six ISIL militants were killed and 20 militants were wounded.[2][40] According to Human Rights Watch, some residents have fled the city in advance of an announced Libyan Armed Forces assault on Derna.[41] Approval for a Libyan Army ground assault on Derna was given on 6 December 2014 and army units moved within a few kilometers of Derna, retaking control of villages and roads leading to the city.[16] From December 2014, US drones and electronic surveillance planes began making "constant flights" from Italian bases over Derna.[42] On 25 March 2015, the Tobruk-based government announced it was launching an offensive on the city of Derna, to expel ISIL and other militant groups from the city.[43]

Egyptian military airstrikes

On 15 February 2015, the Islamic State in Libya released a video depicting the beheading of 21 Coptic Christians from Egypt. Within hours, the Egyptian Air Force responded with airstrikes against IS training locations and weapons stockpiles, killing 50 militants in Derna.[44] Warplanes acting under orders from the "official" Libyan government also struck targets in Derna, reportedly in coordination with Egypt's airstrikes.[45] A Libyan official stated that more joint airstrikes would follow.[45]

2015–2016 Battle of Derna

In March 2015, the Libyan National Army, affiliated with the Tobruk-based government, began to implement a siege of the city of Derna, in preparation for a future offensive on the city.[43] However, by May 2015, the operation had stalled due to disputes between commanders and affiliated tribes.[46]

The Shura Council of Mujahideen in Derna, an umbrella organisation of Derna-based Islamist factions opposed to ISIL, launched an offensive against ISIL in June 2015, following its involvement in the killing of two of their leaders.[7] After days of clashes, they were able to push ISIL out of large portions of the city,[36] but clashes continued between them and the Tobruk-based government forces. By July 2015, the last ISIL militants in Derna were expelled from the city, withdrawing to al-Fatayeh on the outskirt where they continued to clash with the Derna Shura Council.[10][47] Taking advantage of ISIL's collapse in the city, the Shura Council began to impose their own rule and Libyan Army forces attempted to advance on the city.[48] Following continued clashes, ISIL retreated from al-Fatayeh and positions in Derna's outskirts in April 2016, reportedly to the group's stronghold in Sirte.[3]

U.S. airstrike

The United States launched an airstrike at Derna on 13 November 2015, targeting senior ISIL leader Abu Nabil al-Anbari.[5][49] Abu Nabil had previously led Al-Qaeda in Iraq operations between Fallujah and Ramadi from 2004 to 2010 before relocating to Libya. It was the first military action against ISIL by the United States outside of Syria and Iraq. The Libya Herald reported that Abu Nabil al-Anbari was not killed in the airstrike,[50] however a eulogy to Abu Nabil al-Anbari was published online by a member of ISIL some weeks later[51] and an interview with his replacement was published in an ISIL magazine in March 2016.[52]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "ISIS Now Has Military Allies in 11 Countries -- NYMag". Daily Intelligencer. Archived from the original on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Cruickshank, Paul; Robertson, Nic; Lister, Tim; Karadsheh, Jomana (18 November 2014). "ISIS comes to Libya". CNN. Archived from the original on 2015-02-18. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Islamic State in retreat around east Libyan city: military". Reuters. 20 April 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-04-20. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Egypt launches airstrikes against ISIL in Libya". USA today. 16 February 2015. Archived from the original on 2017-10-12. Retrieved 2017-08-26.
  5. 1 2 "Exclusive: U.S. Targets ISIS in Libya Airstrike". The Daily Beast. 14 November 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-11-14. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Libyan city is first outside Syria, Iraq to join ISIS". Haaretz.com. 10 November 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-11-12. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  7. 1 2 "Al-Qaida-linked militants attack IS affiliate in Libya". Associated Press. 10 June 2015. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  8. ↑ "ISIS Leader in Libya Presumed Killed by U.S. Airstrike". NBC News. 14 November 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-11-14. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  9. 1 2 "Derna Islamist leader killed in Benghazi". Libya Herald. 17 September 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-10-16. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 "Isis in Libya: Islamic State driven out of Derna stronghold by al-Qaeda-linked militia". International Business Times UK. 15 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
  11. ↑ "Islamists clash in Derna, Abu Sleem leader reported killed". Libya Herald. 10 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-06-10. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  12. ↑ "Isis in Libya: Al-Qaeda commander killed in Islamist power struggle for IS-controlled Derna". International Business Times. 10 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-06-10. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  13. ↑ "Islamists clash in Derna, Abu Sleem leader reported killed". Libya Herald. 10 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-06-10. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "Heavy fighting continues near Derna". libyaherald.com. 29 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-07-03. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  15. ↑ "Three children among dead in suicide bombing in Derna: UPDATE". libyaherald.com. 3 July 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-07-05. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  16. 1 2 "Libyan army gears up for Derna assault". Middle East Eye. Archived from the original on 2015-01-28. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  17. ↑ SPIEGEL ONLINE, Hamburg, Germany (18 November 2014). "Islamic State Expanding into North Africa". Der Spiegel. Archived from the original on 2014-11-21. Retrieved 25 November 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. ↑ Zelin, Aaron Y. (10 October 2014). "The Islamic State's First Colony in Libya". The Washington Institute. Archived from the original on 2014-11-29. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  19. ↑ Paton, Callum (2015-06-15). "Isis in Libya: Islamic State driven out of Derna stronghold by al-Qaeda-linked militia". International Business Times UK. Archived from the original on 2018-06-28. Retrieved 2018-10-13. Analyst and non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council Centre for the Middle East, Mohammed Eljahr, told IBTimes UK that Abu Salim Brigade had always had superior numbers and firepower relative to IS in Derna.
  20. ↑ "Middle East updates / ISIS kills 14 Libyan soldiers, official government says". Haaretz.com. 3 January 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-01-28. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  21. ↑ "ISIS Fighters Kill 14 Soldiers in Southern Libya". News From Antiwar.com. 5 January 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-01-28. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  22. ↑ "Scores of Libyans pledge loyalty to ISIS chief in video". Al Arabiya. Reuters. 1 November 2014. Archived from the original on 2015-01-28. Retrieved 2015-01-09.
  23. 1 2 "Libya officials: Jihadis driving IS from eastern stronghold". Associated Press. 30 July 2015. Archived from the original on 2016-04-06. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  24. ↑ "www.ibtimes.co.uk/libya-egyptian-troops-launch-ground-attack-isis-held-derna-capturing-55-militants-1488522". International Business Times. 18 February 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-02-19. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  25. ↑ "Derna Mujahedeen sentence IS members to death". libyaherald.com. 6 July 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-07-07. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  26. ↑ "Car bombed in Derna". libyaherald.com. 7 July 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-07-08. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  27. ↑ "Mujahideen claims to push back IS from high ground behind Derna". Libya Herald. 31 July 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-08-11. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  28. ↑ "BBC News - Libya violence: Activists beheaded in Derna". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2015-01-28. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  29. ↑ "3 Activists 'beheaded' in Derna, Libya". OBS Forum. Archived from the original on 2015-01-28. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  30. ↑ "Three Activists Beheaded in Eastern Libya". Diana Crandall. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  31. ↑ "ISIS in Libya claims execution of 2 Tunisian journalists - World - Dunya News". dunyanews.tv. Archived from the original on 2015-01-28. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  32. ↑ "ISIS Claims To Have Executed Two Tunisian Journalists". International Business Times. 8 January 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-01-28. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  33. ↑ Ernst, Douglas (18 November 2014). "Islamic State takes Libyan city; 100K under terror group's control as chaos spreads". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on 2015-02-23. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  34. ↑ "The Islamic State of Libya Isn't Much of a State". Foreign Policy. 17 February 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-06-09. Retrieved 10 June 2015. He noted that it does not control all of Derna, where rival groups like the Abu Salim Martyrs Brigade still play a major role.
  35. ↑ "Islamic State 'province' advances in and around Libyan city of Sirte". Long War Journal. 9 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-06-09. Retrieved 10 June 2015. Last year, multiple press outlets erroneously reported that Baghdadi's loyalists run the city of Derna. That isn't true. The Islamic State has a significant contingent in Derna and controls part of the city, but other jihadists remain entrenched.
  36. 1 2 "Libyan Islamists claim to drive Islamic State from port stronghold". Reuters. 14 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-06-14. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  37. ↑ Peraino, Kevin (19 April 2008). "Cover: The Jihadist Riddle". Newsweek. Archived from the original on 2014-11-14. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  38. ↑ "How a Libyan City Joined the Islamic State Group". ABC News. 9 November 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-11-18. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  39. ↑ "Isis: Libya Baghdadi proclaimed chief of Derna Caliphate". ANSAmed. 31 October 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-11-13. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  40. ↑ "Car bombs kill at least four in Libya as chaos mounts". Times of Malta. Reuters. 13 November 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-11-29. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  41. ↑ "Libya: Extremists Terrorizing Derna Residents". Human Rights Watch. 27 November 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-12-05. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  42. ↑ Chris Stephen (6 December 2014). "US expresses fears as Isis takes control of northern Libyan town". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2015-01-28. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  43. 1 2 "Libyan cities increasingly isolated". Al-Monitor. Archived from the original on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  44. ↑ "Egyptian air strikes in Libya 'kill 50 Isis militants'". The Guardian. 16 February 2015. Archived from the original on 2016-12-02. Retrieved 2016-12-14.
  45. 1 2 "Libyan air force loyal to official government bombed targets in eastern city of Derna". Ynetnews. 16 February 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-02-16. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  46. ↑ "Splitting the Islamists: The Islamic State's Creeping Advance in Libya". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. 19 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-06-23. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  47. ↑ "Dozens killed in attack on ISIS in Libya's Derna". 21 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-06-24. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
  48. ↑ "A Victory Over the Islamic State in Libya". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on 2015-06-30. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
  49. ↑ Martin Pengelly (14 November 2015). "Islamic State leader in Libya 'killed in US airstrike'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2015-11-15. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  50. ↑ "Abu Nabil Al-Anbari "not killed" in US Derna attack". Libya Herald. 15 November 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-11-17. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  51. ↑ "Eulogy to Abu Nabil al-Anbari: Islamic State leader in Libya". Middle East Forum. Archived from the original on 2016-01-27. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  52. ↑ "New Islamic State leader in Libya says group 'stronger every day'". Reuters. 10 March 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-03-11. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
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