Libya: IS militant kills two policemen August 31

Event

An Islamic State (IS) militant drove a vehicle filled with explosives into a Tobruk-based government checkpoint on Thursday, August 31, killing at least two policemen. The IS checkpoint attack took place in An-Nawfaliya, a town 130 km (81 mi) east of Sirte, and also injured two Libyan National Army (LNA) troops. The IS-sponsored Amaq News Agency announced that IS claimed responsibility hours after the attack.

Context

The IS attack on the An-Nawfaliya checkpoint comes just over a week after IS militants decapitated 11 people at an LNA checkpoint in Al-Jufra. Both the LNA and Bunyan al-Marsous (BAM) militia have sent reinforcements to the area in response. There is a current increased threat of attacks in Libya's oil crescent.

Throughout 2016, Libyan forces linked to the UN-backed government in Tripoli engaged in combat with IS in several coastal cities, while US Africa Command (AFRICOM) forces conducted numerous airstrikes on IS positions in Libya. Though IS forces have lost significant territory since their initial expansion in Libya in 2015, isolated groups of IS militants continue to attack outposts controlled by both the Tobruk and Tripoli-based governments near Sirte.

Advice

The security environment in Libya remains complex. Although travel is permissible in some areas, other areas should be considered strictly off limits. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel.​ ​