Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries

Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries
مجلس شورى ثوار بنغازي
Participant in the Second Libyan Civil War
Active 20 June 2014[1]–Present
Ideology Islamism
Jihadism
Leaders Mohamed al-Zahawi †[2]
Ismail Muhammad al-Salabi[3]
Area of operations Benghazi
Strength At least 4,500[4]
Opponents Libya Operation Dignity coalition
Battles and wars Second Libyan Civil War

The Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries (Arabic: مجلس شورى ثوار بنغازي‎‎, Majlis Shura Thuwar Benghazi) is a military coalition in Benghazi composed of Islamist and jihadist militias,[5] including Ansar al-Sharia, Libya Shield 1, and several other groups.[6]

Current military situation in the Libyan Civil War (as of 23 April 2016)
  Controlled by the Council of Deputies and Libyan National Army
  Controlled by the Government of National Accord and Libya Shield Force
  Controlled by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
  Controlled by the Shura Councils of Benghazi, Derna and Ajdabiya
  Controlled by the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG)
  Controlled by Tuareg forces
  Controlled by local forces

(For a more detailed map, see military situation in the Libyan Civil War)

History

The force was initially formed in June 2014, in response both to the anti-Islamist Operation Dignity being led by Khalifa Haftar, and also the defeat of Islamist candidates in the 2014 Council of Deputies election. Afraid of being sidelined and defeated, several Islamist brigades united under a shared umbrella.[7] The consolidation and restructuring allowed the Islamist brigades to limit the success of Haftar's Operation Dignity, before allowing the Islamist groups to push back against the outnumbered forces allied to Haftar.[6]

On 14 July 2014, the council claimed it had taken over Barrack 319, which is one of the largest army barracks in eastern Libya. In late July, they took control of more than five other barracks in Benghazi, including the headquarters of the Al-Saiqa Special Forces unit. On 31 July 2014, the council claimed to have had taken over Benghazi.[8] However it lost control of much of the city to the Libyan National Army in the following months.[9]

Members

As of August 2014, the council was composed of the following groups, among others:[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Splits emerge between Libyan Islamists and jihadists". AFP. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  2. 1 2 "The Rise and Decline of Ansar al-Sharia in Libya". Hudson Institute. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  3. ↑ "Waging the Anti-ISIS Campaign in Bengazi: A Brief Profile of Salafist Commander Ismail Muhammad Al-Salabi". Jamestown Foundation. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  4. ↑ Maggie Michael & Hamza Hendawi (18 September 2012). "A Benghazi power, Libya militia eyed in attack". Associated Press. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  5. ↑ Lamloum, Imed (27 July 2014). "Libya airport battle 'has killed at least 97'". Daily Star. Tripoli. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 McGregor, Andrew (8 August 2014). "Libya's Ansar al-Shari'a Declares the Islamic Emirate of Benghazi". Terrorism Monitor. The Jamestown Foundation. 12 (16). Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  7. ↑ "Libya Islamists declare control of Benghazi". Daily Star. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  8. ↑ "Benghazi 'falls to al-Qaeda-linked rebels". Al Jazeera English. 31 July 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  9. ↑ "Libyan army says recaptures four barracks in Benghazi", The Star, Oct 31, 2014
  10. ↑ "Operation Dignity takes control of Guwarsha gate as fighting goes into seventh day". Libya Herald. 22 October 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
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