The Libyan National Army (LNA) of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar eliminated the head of the Islamic State (IS, banned in Russia) terrorist organization in North Africa. It is reported by Al-Masdar News with reference to the representative of the LNA, Ahmed al-Mismari.
The liquidation of Abu Maaz al-Iraqi, also known as Abu Abdullah al-Iraqi, became known after the operation in the city of Sebha in southwestern Libya. In total, nine terrorists were killed in its course. The identity of the leader of the North African branch of IS was only possible after an investigation and the detention of two more members of the group elsewhere.
Al-Mismari said that al-Iraqi entered Libya back in 2014 using a fake passport. He revealed the origin and real name of the killed: according to the LNA, the man's name was Abdullah al-Rubii, he was an Iraqi Kurd. He took a high post within IS after the death of the previous leader of the branch in 2015.
The fact that IS is again actively operating in Libya, including against the LNA forces, became known in May 2020 after another terrorist attack.
In Libya, the confrontation continues between the Government of National Accord (GNA), which controls Tripoli and the territories in the west of the country and is supported by Turkey, and the Libyan National Army under the command of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, supported by Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Its unofficial allies are France and the United Arab Emirates – the latter, according to some sources, supplied the army with equipment, including equipment purchased from Russia. In addition, Russia has been repeatedly accused of having its mercenaries in Libya. In particular, it was claimed that about 2 thousand fighters from Wagner's private military company (PMC) were fighting on the side of Haftar.
