Overview
Abu al-Baraa el-Azdi is the reported emir (leader) of ISIS’s branch in Derna, Libya.Maggie Michael, “How a Libyan city joined the Islamic State group,” Associated Press, November 9, 2014, http://bigstory.ap.org/article/195a7ffb0090444785eb814a5bda28c7/how-libyan-city-joined-islamic-state-group. El-Azdi reportedly acts as the city’s supreme judge, issuing rulings and punishments from within Derna’s courtroom.Chris Stephen, “US expresses fears as Isis takes control of northern Libyan town,” Guardian, December 6, 2014, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/06/us-fears-isis-nothern-libya-derna. Under el-Azdi’s control, public floggings, executions, and assassinations have become commonplace in Derna.Chris Stephen, “US expresses fears as Isis takes control of northern Libyan town,” Guardian, December 6, 2014, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/06/us-fears-isis-nothern-libya-derna.
El-Azdi is allegedly supported by 200-300 militants, mainly Libyan fighters with combat experience from Syria.Chris Stephen, “US expresses fears as Isis takes control of northern Libyan town,” Guardian, December 6, 2014, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/06/us-fears-isis-nothern-libya-derna. As of December 2014, up to 200 additional fighters were reportedly receiving training in ISIS camps in Libya.Chris Stephen, “US expresses fears as Isis takes control of northern Libyan town,” Guardian, December 6, 2014, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/06/us-fears-isis-nothern-libya-derna.
ISIS has controlled DernaPaul Cruickshank, Nic Robertson, Tim Lister, and Jomana Karadsheh, “ISIS comes to Libya,” CNN, February 16, 2015, http://edition.cnn.com/2014/11/18/world/isis-libya/index.html. since October 31, 2014 when part of Islamist group Ansar al-Sharia Libya pledged allegiance to ISIS.Maggie Michael, “How a Libyan city joined the Islamic State group,” Associated Press, November 9, 2014, http://bigstory.ap.org/article/195a7ffb0090444785eb814a5bda28c7/how-libyan-city-joined-islamic-state-group. According to the Associated Press, Derna is “the first city outside of Iraq and Syria to join the ‘caliphate’ announced by the extremist group [ISIS].”Maggie Michael, “How a Libyan city joined the Islamic State group,” Associated Press, November 9, 2014, http://bigstory.ap.org/article/195a7ffb0090444785eb814a5bda28c7/how-libyan-city-joined-islamic-state-group.
Associated Groups
- Extremist entity
- ISIS
- Read Threat Report
- Type(s) of Organization:
- Insurgent, territory-controlling, religious, terrorist, violent
- Ideologies and Affiliations:
- Islamist, jihadist, pan-Islamist, Salafist, takfiri
- Position(s):
- ISIS-appointed emir and supreme judge of Derna, Libya
ISIS is a violent jihadist group based in Iraq and Syria. The group has declared wilayas (provinces) in Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the North Caucasus. ISIS has also waged attacks in Turkey, Lebanon, France, Belgium, Iraq, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Tunisia, and Kuwait.
- Extremist entity
- Ansar al-Sharia
- Read Threat Report
- Type(s) of Organization:
- Insurgent, territory-controlling, terrorist, violent
- Ideologies and Affiliations:
- Islamist, jihadist, pan-Islamist, Salafist, takfiri
- Position(s):
- ISIS-appointed emir and supreme judge of Derna, Libya
ISIS is a violent jihadist group based in Iraq and Syria. The group has declared wilayas (provinces) in Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the North Caucasus. ISIS has also waged attacks in Turkey, Lebanon, France, Belgium, Iraq, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Tunisia, and Kuwait.
History
Daily Dose
Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.
In Their Own Words:
We reiterate once again that the brigades will directly target US bases across the region in case the US enemy commits a folly and decides to strike our resistance fighters and their camps [in Iraq].
Mar. 2023