Libyan forces arrest seven militants linked to Al Qaeda

Libyan National Army seizes suspects during raids in south-western city

The Libyan National Army arrested seven terrorists affiliated with Al-Qaeda in the city of Ubari, southwest of the country. Saturday November 28, 2020. Courtesy Bing

Libyan forces said they arrested seven terrorists affiliated with Al Qaeda in the country's south-west on Saturday.

The arrests were made during a security operation in the Chareb and Targhin areas of Ubari city, Maj Gen Ahmed Al Mismari, spokesman for the Libyan National Army, said on Facebook.

He said the forces seized large quantities of ammunition, weapons and documents from the terrorists, who were of various nationalities.

Maj Gen Al Mismari said the dawn sweeps by the Tariq bin Ziyad Brigade and the 116 Infantry Brigade were part of the LNA's operations to pursue and eliminate extremist terrorist cells and maintain national security.

Last week Al Qaeda's North African branch, known as Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, announced the appointment of a new leader while confirming the death of its former chief, Abdelmalek Droukdel, in June.

Yazid Mubarak, an Algerian also known as Abu Ubaida Yusuf Al Annabi, was named to succeed Droukdel, who was killed in Mali by French forces.