By Farah Waleed.
Tripoli, 9 February 2015:
Supporters of the Islamic State (IS) claim to have taken over the small town of Nufaliya, . . .[restrict]some 30 kilometres west of Ben Jawad which is currently being used by Libya Dawn’s Operation Sunrise forces as their base in the offensive to take Sidra oil terminal.
A video posted on social media and claiming to have been filmed yesterday shows a convoy of some 40 vehicles driving with some displaying the black IS flag along the main street of the bleak desert town, which lies some 10 kilometres south of the main coast road.
They are reported to still be there today, demanding that the residents “repent” on non-Islamic practices and pledge allegiance to the Islamic State, its “Caliph”, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and his “emir” in the town, named as one Ali Al-Qarqaa.
The group, which is alleged to include some foreigners, is said to have come from Sirte, itself now reported to have a significant IS presence.
To have managed to travel the 140 kilometres between Sirte and Nufaliya would have been almost impossible without the knowledge of Operation Sunrise forces. Although they and Libya Dawn have until now disputed the presence of any IS forces in the country, it was reported that there was a clash yesterday between Sunrise and IS in which as many as five Misratans fighting with Sunrise died.
With Nufaliya in its hands IS would be able to control the east-west coastal road currently closed because of the fighting further east of ben Jawad between Operation Sunrise and the forces loyal to the Libya government. At present the only town fully controlled by IS is Derna, although it believed to have cells operating in Tripoli and Sabratha as well as Sirte.
Today, it is reported that IS has reinforced the entrances of Nufaliya to prevent Sunrise attacks. [/restrict]
