Designated as a foreign terrorist organization on january, 2014, ansar al sharia in benghazi aas. Mohamed alzahawi, nasser altarshani, and other libyan islamists founders of. Ansar al sharia initially manifested as a revolutionary brigade during the 2011 libyan revolution and gained prominence following the death of muammar al qaddafi. Ansar al sharia in libya asl is one of the most powerful jihadi groups in libya and it might, in fact, represent a more significant longterm threat than is provinces in libya. The lna successfully ambushed and defeated one of the field commanders of the internationally recognized but disputed. Ansar alsharia initially manifested as a revolutionary brigade during the 2011 libyan revolution and gained prominence following the death of muammar al qaddafi. Ansar alsharia in libya asl counter extremism project. The libyan branch of ansar al sharia was established following the death of libyan ruler muammar gaddafi, which resulted in the release of some 20,000 prisoners some of who would eventually join the group. This victory over libya s militias may simply exacerbate the problem ranj alaaldin driving militias like ansar al sharia underground while treating others as untouchable is bad for security and. Libyan islamist group ansar alsharia says it is dissolving. Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years. Ansar alsharia in libya asl is one of the most powerful jihadi groups in libya and it might, in fact, represent a more significant longterm threat than is provinces in libya. This is where gaddafi controlled libya from, and then ansar al sharia took it over.
Ansar al sharia partisans of islamic law sharia is a salafist jihadist militia based in benghazi. Ansar alsharia partisans of islamic law sharia is a salafist jihadist militia based in benghazi. Al sour claimed that the storming of the us special mission in benghazi on 11 september 2012, and the subsequent death of us ambassador chris stevens and three others, was carried out by ansar al sharia. Ansar alshariah libya was a salafiislamist militant organization operating in libya.
It has been listed as a terrorist group by the tunisian government as well by the united nations, the uae, the united kingdom and the united states. Since members have been accused of involvement in attacks on the us embassies in tunisia and libya, the tunisian government banned the meeting. Since the socalled arab spring erupted, the middle east has undergone structural changes that have marked the beginning of a new phase in the regions political landscape. Ansar al sharia libya story stream critical threats. In particular, katibat ansar al sharia, which has attempted to burnish its local credentials through social services since the consulate. Until january 2015, it was led by its amir, muhammad al zahawi. Ansar al sharia asl, formed in 2012 following the overthrow of libyan autocrat muammar elqaddafi, announced its dissolution in a statement posted online on saturday. Ansar al sharia libya the libyan branch of ansar al sharia was established following the death of libyan ruler muammar gaddafi, which resulted in the release of some 20,000 prisoners some of who would eventually join the group. Ansar alsharia aas groups in libya emerged following the 2011 libyan revolution. Jul 14, 2017 in addition to online connections with the ansar alshaira group in tunisia, asb has ties to several smaller salafijihadist katibas battalions in libya, including the shadowy ansar alsharia. We invite all other factions to unite themselves and pursue. Ansar al shariah in libya asl was an islamist group that formed when two smaller militant groups, ansar al shariah in benghazi asb and ansar al shariah in derna asd, each only a couple months old themselves, merged in the aftermath of the february 2011 libyan uprising against muammar elqaddafi. Ansar alsharia benghazi, libya ansar alsharia in libya. What is ansar al sharia, and was it behind the consulate.
There were disputes over the assemblys functions and mandate, and boycotts threatened its overall viability. The libyan branch of ansar alsharia was established following the death of. Ansar al sharia in libya asl was a violent salafist group that was active in libya from 2012 to 2017. Ast was not formally affiliated with the ansar al shariah organizations operating in libya, yemen and egypt. Mapping libyas factions european council on foreign relations. Ansar alsharia in libya was a salafist islamist militia group that advocated the implementation of strict sharia law across libya. Cairo reuters libyan islamist group ansar alsharia, a group linked to al qaeda, is formally dissolving itself, it said in a statement on saturday. Establishment of the general national congress september 2012, the al qaedaaffiliated group ansar al sharia launched a surprise attack on the u. Libyan government turns to ansar alsharia militia for crime. Jun, 2014 libya s ansar al sharia has come under the spotlight in recent weeks following the launch of attacks against the group in benghazi. Library of congress federal research division al qaeda in libya.
Libya s ansar al sharia has come under the spotlight in recent weeks following the launch of attacks against the group in benghazi. Sep 21, 2012 the name ansar al sharia shot into the news last week in the aftermath of the attack on the u. Inghimasi are welltrained terrorists who carries both light arms and explosives and fights until he. The death blow against terrorism in libya katehon think. In spite of ideological and political differences between the two movements, isil and ansar al sharia. Introduction the security landscape in libya is a confusing array of institutional actorsarmy and police and noninstitutional actorsindependent brigades and ansar al sharia that compete over special reportunited states institute of. It was believed that he died as a result of injuries sustained while fighting government forces in. Nov 16, 2012 former cia director david petraeus is expected to tell house and senate committees friday that ansar al sharia was suspected in the u. He gave official confirmation that ansar al sharia were the nucleus of the formation of is in libya and that the majority of libyan is leaders were former al qaida members.
Mohamed al zahawi, nasser altarshani, and other libyan islamists founders of. The report concluded that al qaeda is on the verge of a fully operational network inside libya, and ansar alsharia is one of the. Algeriaborn al qaeda member responsible for the 20 in amenas attack in algeria. Ansar alsharia came into being in 2011, during the libyan civil war. At its height, asl operated branches in benghazi, derna, sirte, ajdabiya, and nawfalia. Analyst on ansar al sharia link to attack on us consulate. Over the past two years, global attention has shifted to syria and iraq with the rise of jabhat al nusra and the return of the islamic state of iraq and al sham isis. Ansar al sharia libya relaunches social media sites fdd. Ansar al sharia is a salafijihadi group established during the 2011 libyan revolution that is part of al qaedas network in libya. Paradoxically, a trend that has clearly manifested itself in addition to. He also said the financing of ansar al sharia emanated from the libyan state.
Ansar al sharia benghazi, libya ansar alsharia in libya. Refworld country reports on terrorism 2017 foreign. The report concluded that alqaeda is on the verge of a fully operational network inside libya, and ansar alsharia is one of the. This victory over libyas militias may simply exacerbate. Supporters of islamic law was a salafist islamist militia group that advocated the implementation of strict sharia law across libya. Mar 08, 20 the members of ansar al sharia are trying to champion popular causes in benghazi in particular and libya in general. Libyas ansar alsharia announces dissolution from main group. Ast is a violent jihadist group that seeks to implement sharia islamic law in tunisia. Aqim doesnt typically advertise its presence in libya, but has clearly backed groups such as ansar al sharia in libya and the mujahideen shura council in derna. May 27, 2017 cairo reuters libyan islamist group ansar al sharia, a group linked to al qaeda, is formally dissolving itself, it said in a statement on saturday. Its pamphlets and posters are published on its facebook page as images, usually accompanied by. Ansar al sharia libya part of al qaedas international network.
The shura council is connected with the libya dawn camp in western libya insofar as they. He said mohamed al zahawi, the leader of ansar al sharia in benghazi, was responsible for the operation. Sun light is a key part of any plan to combat al qaedas clandestine strategy. Andrew engel, defeating the islamic state in sirte. Prime minister alsarraj and the government of national accord. Little was known about him besides his imprisonment in tropoli for opposing gaddafi. Ansar alsharia announced in a 27 may 2017 statement posted online that it was formally dissolving itself. Sep, 2012 but as the terrible events of this week showed in benghazi, with so many weapons at large in libya and so much anger to tap into, even small organisations like ansar al sharia could yet undermine. He leads the militant al qaeda in the islamic maghreb offshoot al murabitun. Libyan protesters force islamist militia out of benghazi. State hillary clinton had brokered the libya deal through amb. The successful establishment of ansar al sharia in those towns relied on the support provided by local sponsors. Saudi arabia reiterates full support for libya almonitor.
Their goal is to establish sharia and to remove us and western influence. Abundant evidence at the time indicated that this was false. Sep 27, 2016 are you a dedicated reader of fdds long war journal. In its weekly newspaper al naba, in an article eulogizing shaykh abu layla kamal zarruq attunisi al qurashi, a tunisian leader in the islamic state of iraq and the levant, the islamic state severely criticised ansar al sharia in tunisia and its leader abu iyad, saying. Ansar al sharia s propaganda features that black flag seen below much more frequently than the banner often associated with the islamic state. Stevens was sent to benghazi to secretly retrieve us made stinger missiles that the state dept. On 4 october 2012, the united states department of state amended its list of foreign terrorist organizations to designate ansar al sharia in yemen as an alias for al qaeda in the arabian peninsula, rather than listing it as a separate organisation. Fighters of the libyan national army lna staged an offensive in benghazi, monday, in a push to drive out militants who reportedly are connected to the ansar alsharia militant group. Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a onetime or monthly donation. However, ast and ansar al shariah in libya asl reportedly shared operational, financial, and logistical links.
Ansar al sharia included two separate organizations. In benghazi, ansar alsharia has been able to provide protec. Ansar alsharia in libya asl was a violent salafist group that was active in libya from 2012 to 2017. The rise and decline of ansar alsharia in libya by aaron y. In 20, the group was estimated to have roughly 10,000 members. However, there are few recent studies of asl, so exactly what kind. However, ast and ansar alshariah in libya asl reportedly shared operational, financial. Ansar alsharia in benghazi, ansar alsharia in darnah. Wilayat barqa, wilayat fezzan, and wilayat tarabulus tunisia okba ibn nafaa brigade shabab al tawhid a. The tunisian branch of ansar al sharia announced it was holding an annual conference in the old central islamic city of kairouan in tunisia on sunday. The group has initiated several violent protests, including the september 2012 attack on the u. A profile 3 ansar alsharia as a defender of islam and sharia, and highlighting its goodwill and civic activities in benghazi, such as visits to hospitals and trash cleanup efforts.
The rise and decline of ansar alsharia in libya by. Pdf ansar alsharia in libya asl is one of the most powerful jihadi groups in libya and it might, in fact, represent a more significant. Ansar al sharia libya leader met with osama bin laden. Al qaedas senior leadership has dispatched operatives to libya in the past. A profile 3 ansar al sharia as a defender of islam and sharia, and highlighting its goodwill and civic activities in benghazi, such as visits to hospitals and trash cleanup efforts. Ansar alshariah libya center for international security and. However, nearly one thousand miles to the west, ansar alsharia in libya asl has continued its work of facilitating a future islamic state since the. Ansar alsharia libia wikipedia, a enciclopedia livre. The flag features the shahada, with ansar al sharia. Small contingents of local jihadists and alleged al qaeda elements have come to the fore since the start of the countrys arab spring ferment in 2011.
Al qaeda, ansar al sharia in libya, islamic state, libya. The washington institute for near east policy, 8 july 2016. Ansar al shariah in libya asl is an islamist group that was formed when two smaller militant groups, ansar al shariah in benghazi asb and ansar al shariah in derna asd, each only a couple months old themselves, merged in the aftermath of the libyan uprising against muammar elqaddafi in february 2011. Against this backdrop of division, the islamic state of iraq and the levant and ansar al sharia, as well as other militant groups both religious and tribal in nature, have seized control of several cities and districts across libya, especially in cyrenaica, which is theoretically under the. Why the alqaeda linked group blamed for 2012 benghazi attack. In addition to online connections with the ansar al shaira group in tunisia, asb has ties to several smaller salafijihadist katibas battalions in libya, including the shadowy ansar al sharia. Abu sufyan bin qumu founder of ansar alsharia in derna. May 28, 2017 libya s ansar al sharia, based in benghazi, has declared dissolution from the main group. In a statement on saturday, the libyan ansar al sharia said it officially dissolved itself after being weakened by the ongoing fighting, in which it sacrificed several fighters and leaders.
Prime minister alsarraj and the government of national accord 3. Why the alqaeda linked group blamed for 2012 benghazi. Ansar alsharia in benghazi, ansar alsharia in darnah, and. Ansar alsharia in tunisia ast counter extremism project. Ansar alsharia in libya asl is one of the most powerful jihadi groups in libya and it. General khalifa haftars libyan national army lna has finally eliminated libya s ansar al sharia terrorists affiliated with al qaida. In benghazi, ansar al sharia has been able to provide protection and services to the population where the central government has been unable or unwilling to do so. Salafi jihadist group with branches in benghazi and derna that has been at the forefront of fighting operation dignity forces. Ansar al sharia aas groups in libya emerged following the 2011 libyan revolution. Muhammad al zahawi was widely recognized as ansar al sharia libya s asl amir and spiritual leader.
Islamism in libya the washington institute for near east. Jul 12, 2017 libyas leaders have given the goahead for revolutionary militias, including the powerful islamist nawasi brigade and ansar alshariathe militia blamed for the assault last september on the. In january 2015, it was confirmed by asl that he had died. Ambassador stevens was sent to benghazi to secretly retrieve usmade stinger missiles that the state dept had supplied to ansar al sharia in libya without congressional oversight or permission. Some speakers cautioned that there is little incentive for these militia members to relin. Former cia director david petraeus is expected to tell house and senate committees friday that ansar al sharia was suspected in the u.
The flag features the shahada, with ansar al sharia written beneath in arabic. Library of congress federal research division alqaeda in libya. The group sought to transform libya into an islamic state governed in accordance with sharia islamic law. Their goal is to establish sharia and to remove us and western influence from libya. Salafist militias in the east, notably the ansar alsharia brigade, have established themselves as major players who stand up for this mistreated part of the country.
Ansar alshariah libya mapping militant organizations. Ansar al sharia is most active in the libyan cities of benghazi, darnah, sirte, and ajdabiya, but. However, they remain firmly opposed to the idea of democracy, which, they. A project by the middle east and north africa programme at.
The group aimed to establish shariah law in tunisia and promoted the idea of global jihad. An enduring threat by henrik gratrud and vidar benjamin skretting abstract ansar alsharia in libya asl is one of the most powerful jihadi groups in libya and it might, in fact, represent a more significant longterm threat than is provinces in libya. Libyan protesters force islamist militia out of benghazi this article is more than 7 years old. Retired general khalifa haftar, the selfdeclared leader of the.
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