OSINT SUMMARY
BENGHAZI, Libya: 22nd February 2016, credible OSINT summaries reveal that military forces loyal to Libyan government on Sunday launched an operation pushing back Islamist fighters in several areas of Benghazi. The army forces also seized the strategic port of Marisa.
Corresponding reports indicate that Libyan National Army advances pushed ISIS militants leaving the government forces under full control of the town of Ajdabiya located some 150 kilometers (90 miles) south of Benghazi. Ajdabiya has been faced by rising challenge of ISIS militancy.
Since the death of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya armed factions supporting rival government in Tripoli grappling over power and share of the country’s oil wealth.
Islamic State fighters have taken advantage of the security vacuum in to expand their foothold in Libya. The fighters linked to the Islamic State largely control the city Sirte located to the west of Ajdabiya.
Benghazi which is Libya’s second-largest city has seen some of the worst fighting, with violence escalating when military commander Khalifa Haftar launched a campaign in 2014 against Islamists and other armed groups.
Recent reports indicate that Islamic State in Libya is heading south as U.S. continues to intensify it campaigns against the Islamist group. Libyan army advances comes two days after U.S. airstrike destroyed an Islamic State training camp in western city of Sabratha that left dozens of Islamic State fighters killed. Minimum civilian casualties were also reported.
