| Ansar Al-Sharia (Derna, Libya) | |
|---|---|
 The flag of the group | |
| Leaders | Abu Sufian bin Qumu (POW) |
| Dates of operation | 2011–2018 |
| Active regions | Eastern Libya (Cirenaica) |
| Part of | Shura Council of Mujahideen in Derna |
| Allies | Abu Salim Martyrs Brigade Jaysh al-Islami al-Libi |
| Opponents |  Islamic State |
| Battles and wars | Second Libyan Civil War |
Ansar al-Sharia is the Derna based branch of a larger Libyan group; the branch is headed by Abu Sufian bin Qumu. In 2011 bin Qumu became the leader of a band of fighters in his hometown of Derna during the 2011 Libyan civil war. The group was reported as disbanding itself following the U.S. Consulate attack in Benghazi however by late 2013 the group had re-emerged in the city as a branch of the Benghazi-based Ansar al-Sharia under the slogan "A step toward building the Islamic state".
In December 2014, Ansar al-Sharia joined the Abu Salim Martyrs Brigade and Jaysh al-Islami al-Libi in an umbrella organisation called the Majlis Shura al-Mujahidin Derna (Derna Mujahidin Consultative Council). The group has been involved in fighting with the forces of General Khalifa Haftar in the Second Libyan Civil War.
Ansar al-Sharia and the Majlis Shura al-Mujahidin Derna have opposed the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant presence in Derna.
See also
References
- ^ "The Rise and Decline of Ansar al-Sharia in Libya". Hudson Institute. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- Aaron Zelin (21 September 2012). "Know Your Ansar al-Sharia". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
- Holly Watt (26 April 2011). "WikiLeaks:Guantanamo detainee is now Libyan rebel leader". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
- Marie-Louise Gumuchian and Peter Graff (23 September 2012). "Libyan army tackles rogue militias as two disband". Reuters. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
- Aya Elbrqawi (28 February 2014). "Slow death of Derna". Magharebia. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
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