Ansar al-Sharia (Libya)

For other uses, see Ansar al-Sharia (disambiguation).

Ansar al-Sharia in Libya
أنصار الشريعة بليبيا
LeadersAbu Khalid al Madani[1]
Mohamed al-Zahawi †[2]
Dates of operationJune 2012 – 27 May 2017[3][4][5]
Allegiance Afghanistan[6]
Active regionsBenghazi[7]
Other cities in Eastern Libya[8]
IdeologyIslamism
Salafi jihadism
Anti-Gaddafism
Size4,500–5,000+[9]
Part ofAnsar al-Sharia
Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries
Shura Council of Mujahideen in Derna
Ajdabiya Shura Council
Allies
OpponentsAl-Saiqa (Libya)
Operation Dignity coalition
Battles and warsFirst Libyan Civil War

Inter-civil war violence in Libya

Second Libyan Civil War

Designated as a terrorist group by Iraq
 Turkey
 United Arab Emirates
 United Kingdom
 United Nations
 United States
Preceded by
February 17th Martyrs Brigade
Abu Obayda bin al-Jarah Brigade
Malik Brigade[3]
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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 across Libya.[3] Ansar al-Sharia came into being in 2011, during the Libyan Civil War.[12] 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.[12] The group was designated as a terrorist organization by the United Nations,[13] Iraq,[14] Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom[15] and the United States.[12]

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]

Ansar al sharia libyas fighters
  1. ^ "Ansar al Sharia Libya fights on under new leader". The Long War Journal. 30 June 2015. Archived from the original on 1 July 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Leader of Libyan Islamists Ansar al-Sharia dies of wounds". Reuters. 23 January 2015. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  3. ^ a b c "Profile: Libya's Ansar al-Sharia". BBC News. 13 June 2014. Archived from the original on 24 August 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  4. ^ "Libya militia linked to U.S. attack returns to Benghazi". Reuters. 17 February 2013. Archived from the original on 26 October 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Libyan Islamist group Ansar al-Sharia says it is dissolving". Reuters. 27 May 2017. Archived from the original on 28 May 2017.
  6. ^ "Many Jihadi Groups In Asia & Africa Pledge Allegiance To Taliban Leader, Group Sources". 9 October 2024.
  7. ^ "US names groups suspected of Benghazi attack". Al Jazeera English. 10 January 2014. Archived from the original on 7 June 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference fp200114 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Michael, Maggie; Hendawi, Hamza (18 September 2012). "A Benghazi power, Libya militia eyed in attack". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 21 September 2012.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference jamestown9Jan was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ McGregor, Andrew (8 August 2014). "Libya's Ansar al-Shari'a Declares the Islamic Emirate of Benghazi". Terrorism Monitor. 12 (16). The Jamestown Foundation. Archived from the original on 6 January 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  12. ^ a b c Office of the Spokesperson (10 January 2014). "Terrorist Designations of Three Ansar al-Shari'a Organizations and Leaders". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on 21 January 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  13. ^ "The List established and maintained by the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee with respect to individuals, groups, undertakings and other entities associated with Al-Qaida". United Nations Security Council Committee 1267. UN.org. 19 November 2014. Archived from the original on 25 September 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  14. ^ الموضوع Archived 14 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine moj.gov.iq (in Arabic)
  15. ^ "Proscribed terrorist groups or organisations". Home Office. 15 July 2016. Archived from the original on 26 September 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2016.