Ansar al-Sharia in Libya | |
---|---|
أنصار الشريعة بليبيا | |
Leaders | Abu Khalid al Madani[1] Mohamed al-Zahawi †[2] |
Dates of operation | June 2012 – 27 May 2017[3][4][5] |
Active regions | Benghazi[6] Other cities in Eastern Libya[7] |
Ideology | Islamism Salafi jihadism Anti-Gaddafism |
Size | 4,500–5,000+[8] |
Part of | Ansar al-Sharia Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries Shura Council of Mujahideen in Derna Ajdabiya Shura Council |
Allies | |
Opponents | Al-Saiqa (Libya) Operation Dignity coalition |
Battles and wars | First Libyan Civil War |
Designated as a terrorist group by | Iraq Turkey United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United Nations United States |
Ansar al-Sharia in Libya (ASL, Arabic: أنصار الشريعة بليبيا, lit. 'Supporters of Sharia') was an Al-Qaeda-aligned Salafi Jihadist militia group that advocated the implementation of Sharia law across Libya.[3] Ansar al-Sharia came into being in 2011, during the Libyan Civil War.[11] Until January 2015, it was led by its "Amir", Muhammad al-Zahawi.[2] As part of its strategy, the organization targeted specific Libyan and American civilians for death and took part in the 2012 Benghazi attack.[11] The group was designated as a terrorist organization by the United Nations,[12] Iraq,[13] Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom[14] and the United States.[11]
On 27 May 2017, the group announced it was formally dissolving itself, amid heavy losses that killed most of its leadership and decimated its fighters.[5]
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