By Libya Herald reporter.
Tripoli, 21 October 2015:
Islamic State (IS) gunmen are reported to have been seen today in Ajilat, west of . . .[restrict]Sabratha, following its takeover by Sabrathan forces. That occurred yesterday after Libya National Army (LNA) supported forces withdrew from the area. The Sabrathans also took over Jmail, Ras Yusuf and Taweela.
Dressed in Afghan-style clothes and waving black IS flags, the gunmen are alledged to have been part of the Sabrathan forces led by Taher Al-Gharbali, the militant Islamist who heads Sabratha’s military council. Photos of the gunmen have been posted on social media.
IS gunmen were also reported seen briefly in Al-Jmail. It has since been reported to have been recaptured by regular LNA forces led by Colonel Al-Ajami Al-Ateri which moved in from Wattiyah airbase. However, the Sabrathans are claiming that they still hold it and that the LNA forces had retreated back to Wattiyah. Meanwhile, on Sabratha Radio today, a Sabratha military council spokesman stated that his forces were firmly in control of Ajilat and Taweela, as well as of Shabika, near Sabratha.
The Sabrathan takeover of the area followed a pull-out by LNA-supported forces, mainly Warsehfanis, yesterday.
It is alleged that the latter did so fearing that, after Saturday’s controversial meeting of local forces in Taweela when some of those attending expressed support for the Qaddafi regime, they too would be accused as well of being Qaddafi supporters.
Militant Islamists have run three training camps in west Sabratha for over a year. One camp, near Ajilat, was said last year to be an Ansar Al-Sharia training centre and there were some reports today that the gunmen in Ajilat were Ansar not IS, However, there have been persistent allegations in recent weeks of the militants moving ever closer to IS.
Ten days ago the corpse of an unknown man beheaded and tortured was found on the beach at Sabratha. [/restrict]
