By Saber Ayyub.
Tripoli, 25 February 2016:
Continuing clashes in Sabratha today resulted in the death of a prominent Islamic State (IS) activist . . .[restrict]in the town, a local official has told the Libya Herald.
Abdullah Al-Dabashi, nicknamed “Hafter”, was killed when local activists attacked the house where he was staying. He is said to have been behind the kidnapping last November of the two Serbian diplomats who were killed in last week’s US air raid against IS.
The clashes followed action by armed residents in a number of Sabratha neighbourhoods, notably Zawagha, Alalgha and Khatatba. Together with security forces, they have been combing them in search of people suspected of being linked to IS.
In Khatabata, the homes of the Falah and Thabet families who have been accused of bringing foreign IS fighters to the town were attacked. Mohamed Falah, a colleague of Dabashi, was killed in those clashes. Moaz Thabet, accused of involvement with IS, was caught and arrested but his brother managed to escape
Although the town centre is now free of IS militants after they attacked the police station two days ago and murdered a number of policemen, there were still clashes this evening in Zawagha district.
Reinforcements from Ajilat, Zintan, Rujban and Zuwara have arrived in Sabratha to help in the fight against IS. [/restrict]