Terrorist cells have once again emerged in the city of Derna, northeast of Libya, which was announced liberated in June by Libyan National Army (LNA) Commander Marshal Khalifa Haftar.
During clashes, the LNA killed two leaders of the "Derna Shura Council" after it besieged them in the city’s east coast neighborhood.
Several media outlets reported the death of Amin al-Kabayli, the military commander of Derna Council, known as “al-Abras”, during armed clashes with army forces in the Old City.
Kabayli, 32, belonged to Abu Salim Battalion and was engaged in several armed confrontations with the LNA after he teamed up with the “Shura Council of Mujahideen in Derna,” a pro-al-Qaeda organization, in 2014.
The ongoing clashes with the remnants of fundamentalists based on the outskirts of Derna also resulted in the death of al-Naji Idris, according to a local source.
The source pointed out that LNA forces continued to raid other hideouts of extremists escaping the 210 infantry troop battalion, which arrived in the city mid-week to track the remnants of terrorists fleeing the operation launched by the army in Derna over the past months.
Earlier, Haftar ordered the troops to pursue terrorists in Derna until security is restored in the city. Accordingly, several military units were deployed to support of Omar al-Mukhtar Operations Room.
The War Media Division issued a statement asserting that the military units will help establish security and stability in the area, as well as secure all institutions and vital facilities.
The forces will also help clear the city of sleeper cells, according to the statement.
On May 7, Haftar launched a military operation aimed at "cleansing" Derna from "terrorist elements."
Until its liberation on June 29, the coastal city had been a stronghold of fundamentalist armed elements of various affiliations, most notably the "Shura Council of Mujahideen in Derna."
A security source reported that some members of armed and terrorist groups who fled the area following recent army strikes, have started to regroup, mainly at the axis of Maghar, but army troops attacked and killed some of them, while others escaped.
The source, who preferred to be unnamed, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the army regained control of Derna, including its vital ports, and continues to chase terrorists.
He revealed that security forces are questioning three military commanders, who were recently detained by an army battalion in Derna, without giving further details.
The Supreme Security Chamber, tasked by the General Command to secure Derna, asked citizens to collaborate and cooperate with vehicles that carry their official logo during arrest operations of outlaws.
In a televised statement broadcast by local satellite channels, the Chamber called on the residents of the city and its suburbs, to report any vehicle that does not bare the official logo, indicating that its passengers may be deemed terrorists.
"The families who want to hand over their wanted relatives will be investigated and if found innocent they will be released, or prosecuted according to the law," the statement told citizens.
