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Libya Groups Vow to Crush Unit of ISIS Libya Groups Vow to Crush Unit of ISIS
(35 minutes later)
CAIRO — A coalition of Islamist militias in the Libyan city of Darnah has vowed to eliminate a local unit of the Islamic State, testing its strength and emphasizing the deep divisions among the country’s Islamist forces.CAIRO — A coalition of Islamist militias in the Libyan city of Darnah has vowed to eliminate a local unit of the Islamic State, testing its strength and emphasizing the deep divisions among the country’s Islamist forces.
The challenge in Darnah comes just as another Islamic State unit based in the mid-coastal city of Surt has been steadily expanding its territory, fending off opposing militias from the neighboring city of Misurata. And the clash is also taking place at a moment of growing internal tension within various factions competing for power. The challenge in Darnah comes just as another Islamic State unit based in the mid-coastal city of Surt has been steadily expanding its territory, fending off opposing militias from the neighboring city of Misurata. The clash is also taking place at a moment of growing internal tension within various factions competing for power.
Four years after the uprising that ousted Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, Libya has been torn apart by a conflict between two rival factions — one centered in the central city of Misurata and allied with some Islamists, the other based in the eastern cities of Tobruk and Bayda and allied with an anti-Islamist military leader, Gen. Khalifa Hifter. Four years after the uprising that ousted Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, Libya has been torn apart by a conflict between two rival factions — one centered in the central city of Misurata and allied with some Islamists; the other based in the eastern cities of Tobruk and Bayda and allied with an anti-Islamist military leader, Gen. Khalifa Hifter.
Now the United Nations mediators are pushing to form a unity government that might bring together moderate or conciliatory elements from both warring factions against the hard-liners from either side — and against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. So hawks and doves within each city, tribe and political bloc are now newly divided over whether to accept the proposal or continue to fight. Now, the United Nations mediators are pushing to form a unity government that might bring together moderate or conciliatory elements from both warring factions against the hard-liners from either side — and against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. So hawks and doves within each city, tribe and political bloc are now newly divided over whether to accept the proposal or continue to fight.
Darnah, about 300 miles east of Benghazi, is an Islamist stronghold whose militias have been united against the anti-Islamist forces under General Hifter, and thus the city’s Islamists are all loosely allied with Misurata.Darnah, about 300 miles east of Benghazi, is an Islamist stronghold whose militias have been united against the anti-Islamist forces under General Hifter, and thus the city’s Islamists are all loosely allied with Misurata.
But residents of Darnah and Libyans with family there have also described barely suppressed tensions pitting a group of fighters who have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State against a larger and more established coalition of Islamist militias.But residents of Darnah and Libyans with family there have also described barely suppressed tensions pitting a group of fighters who have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State against a larger and more established coalition of Islamist militias.
Some in that coalition, known as the Mujahedeen Shura Council, have their competing extremist ties. One militia is led by Sufian Bin Qumu, a former inmate at the Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, prison and a former associate of Osama bin Laden. Some in that coalition, known as the Mujahedeen Shura Council, have competing extremist ties. One militia is led by Sufian Bin Qumu, a former inmate at the Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, prison and a former associate of Osama bin Laden.
The Abu Salim Martyrs Brigade, considered among the most formidable in Darnah, has made statements citing a Qaeda ideologue and embracing a similar ultraconservatve brand of Islam. But some of the Islamist militia leaders are believed to be more pragmatic. The Abu Salim Martyrs Brigade, considered among the most formidable in Darnah, has made statements citing a Qaeda ideologue and embracing a similar ultraconservative brand of Islam. But some of the Islamist militia leaders are believed to be more pragmatic.
The Shura Council is also more closely allied with the Misuratan brigades that have been battling the Islamic State near Surt, and the council has reportedly clashed before with the local Islamic State group in Darnah as well, though all set aside their differences to battle General Hifter.The Shura Council is also more closely allied with the Misuratan brigades that have been battling the Islamic State near Surt, and the council has reportedly clashed before with the local Islamic State group in Darnah as well, though all set aside their differences to battle General Hifter.
The recent clash between the two sides appears to have broken out in recent days when the Islamic State fighters reportedly killed a leader of the Shura Council, Nasser el-Akr. Another council leader, Salim Derby, commander of the Abu Salim Martyrs Brigade, was also believed to have been killed.The recent clash between the two sides appears to have broken out in recent days when the Islamic State fighters reportedly killed a leader of the Shura Council, Nasser el-Akr. Another council leader, Salim Derby, commander of the Abu Salim Martyrs Brigade, was also believed to have been killed.
Neither death could be confirmed independently, but a prominent Islamist leader allied with them, Abdul Wahab Gaied, posted eulogies on Facebook for both commanders.Neither death could be confirmed independently, but a prominent Islamist leader allied with them, Abdul Wahab Gaied, posted eulogies on Facebook for both commanders.
On Wednesday, the Shura Council declared war on the Islamic State.On Wednesday, the Shura Council declared war on the Islamic State.
“The Islamic State has shown its tyranny and criminality to every devout person seeking what is right,” the council said in a statement, accusing the group of “fighting Muslims and Mujahedeen.” “The Islamic State has shown its tyranny and criminality to every devout person seeking what is right,” the council said in a statement, accusing the group of “fighting Muslims and mujahedeen.”
“We had already given them a final warning so they may repent from their sins,” the statement continued, so the Shura Council had “put a sword through them and declared jihad against them until none remain.” “We had already given them a final warning so they may repent from their sins,” the statement continued, so the Shura Council “put a sword through them and declared jihad against them until none remain.”