TRIPOLI, Libya: In a significant breakthrough against terrorism, Libyan Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dbeibah announced on Thursday that a prominent leader of the Daesh group, responsible for orchestrating and funding three fatal assaults in the Libyan capital of Tripoli in 2018, has been successfully captured by government forces.
During a live televised address, Prime Minister Dbeibah stated, that our forces, on Tuesday, successfully apprehended a high-ranking operative of the terrorist organization Daesh. This individual was directly involved in planning and commanding acts of terror that targeted critical institutions within our nation, leading to the tragic loss of esteemed officials.” The term “Daesh” is derived from the Arabic acronym for the group.
The prime minister’s announcement was met with anticipation, yet no additional particulars regarding the identity or nationality of the alleged extremist were shared by the government’s media office. The arrest was executed through a meticulously planned joint military operation, signalling the efficacy of collaborative efforts to counteract such threats.
Prime Minister Dbeibah further reaffirmed his government’s unwavering commitment to combat terrorism across all its manifestations. He emphasized that those responsible for perpetrating terrorist activities will be brought to justice and that concerted measures will be taken to bolster national stability.
The attacks in question unfolded during 2018, leaving a trail of devastation and loss. On May 2, 2018, a devastating suicide bombing, claimed by Daesh, targeted the headquarters of the Libyan High Electoral Commission in Tripoli, leading to the tragic demise of 14 individuals. Subsequently, on September 10, 2018, another suicide attack orchestrated by the jihadist group struck the headquarters of the Libyan National Oil Company in the capital, resulting in the death of two individuals and injuring 10 company personnel. The series of assaults culminated on December 25, 2018, with a deadly attack on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which claimed the lives of three people, including a Libyan diplomat. Responsibility for this attack was also claimed by Daesh.
The rise of Daesh in Libya can be attributed to the instability that ensued following the fall of dictator Muammar Qaddafi in 2011. Exploiting the vacuum left by the disintegration of the country’s security apparatus, the group conducted a series of brutal attacks across Libya. They also established strongholds in towns such as Derna and Sirte, from which they were eventually expelled in 2016 and 2018 respectively.
