2014 ISIL takeover of Derna

The ISIL takeover of Derna refers to the takeover of the city of Derna in Cyrenaica, Libya by the self-declared Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in late 2014. In November 2014 Wilayat Darnah (the province of Darnah) or Wilayah Barqah (Province of Eastern Libya) was declared an integral part the so called "Islamic State". ISIL has now taken complete control of the eastern Libyan coastal city with a population of 100,000.

Background
The city of Derna has been considered as being the most pious Muslim city in Libya. In 2007, American troops in Iraq uncovered a list of foreign fighters for the Iraqi insurgency, and of the 112 Libyans on the list, 52 had come from Derna. The city has also been a major source of fighters in the Syrian Civil War and escalation of the Iraqi insurgency, and significant numbers of fighters from Derna joined ISIL.

ISIL takeover
In early 2014, a number of leading ISIL fighters arrived in Derna. In the next few months, they united many local militant factions under their leadership and declared war on anyone who opposed them, killing judges, civic leaders and other opponents, including local militants who rejected their authority.

On 5 October 2014, the ISIL-linked militant factions came together and pledged allegiance to ISIL. A second and more formal gathering took place on 30 October, when the militants fully controlled the city. They gathered to pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi; while, as part of the celebrations of the city joining ISIL, a handmade bomb was detonated in the city square.

November 13, 2014 expansion declaration
On 13 November 2014, al-Baghdadi released an audio-recording in which he stated: "We announce to you the expansion of the Islamic State to new countries, to the countries of the Haramayn [Saudi Arabia], Yemen, Egypt, Libya [and] Algeria". In these countries he announced the creation of five new wilayah or provinces, each with a governor, while nullifying all local jihadist groups. These areas were singled out because the group had a strong base in them from which it could carry out attacks. However, according to analyst Aaron Zelin from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, only the groups in Sinai and Libya exercise any territorial control and the pledges from Saudi Arabia, Libya and Yemen are anonymous and not from known groups. The Long War Journal writes that the logical implication of al-Baghdadi's declaration is that the group will consider Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (Libya) as illegitimate if they do not nullify themselves and submit to the group's authority.

The events in Derna are seen by ISIL and its proponents as a model for ISIL expansion outside Iraq and Syria. ISIL calls this territory Barqa province, using a term denoting eastern Libya.

Administration
The city is led by "Emir" Mohammed Abdullah, also known by his nom de guerre Abu al-Baraa el-Azdi. He is a Yemeni militant who was sent by the leader al-Baghdadi from Syria.

The city is currently fully under ISIL control, with the Black Standard flying over government buildings, police cars carrying ISIL insignia, and the local football stadium being used for public executions. There have been 3 reported beheadings by November. Women increasingly wear ultraconservative face veils and masked men have flogged young men caught drinking alcohol. Education changes include male/female segregation of students, and the removal of history and geography from the curriculum. New "Islamic police" flyers order clothing stores to cover their mannequins and not display "scandalous women's clothes that cause sedition." The law school was closed.

Military strength
The Derna branch of ISIL has around 800 fighters and has half a dozen camps in Derna's outskirts. It also has larger facilities in the Jebel Akhdar area, where fighters from North Africa are being trained. ISIL says it has chapters in al Bayda, Benghazi, Sirte, al-Khums and the Libyan capital Tripoli. On October 5 after the pledging ceremony more than 60 pickup trucks filled with fighters cruised through the city in a victory parade.

Human rights and war crimes allegations
A Human Rights Watch report accused ISIL linked groups in control of Derna of war crimes and human rights abuses that include terrorizing residents in the absence of state authorities and the rule of law. Human Rights Watch documented 3 apparent summary executions and at least 10 public floggings by the Islamic Youth Shura Council which became ISIL in November. They also documented beheadings of three Derna residents and dozens of seemingly politically motivated assassinations of judges, public officials, members of the security forces, and others. Sarah Leah Whitson, HRW Middle East and North Africa director said “Commanders should understand that they may face domestic or international prosecution for the grave rights abuses their forces are committing.”

Libyan air strikes and planned assault
On 12 November, Libyan Air Force fighters carried out airstrikes in Derna, possibly in retaliation to car bombs which exploded in Benghazi, Tobruk and Labraq Airport. Six ISIL militants were killed and 20 militants were wounded. According to Human Rights Watch some residents have fled the city in advance of an announced Libyan Armed Forces assault on Derna.

Commentary and significance
“ISIS pose a serious threat in Libya. They are well on the way to creating an Islamic emirate in eastern Libya. […] Most of the local population in Derna are opposed to the takeover by the Islamic State, but, with the complete absence of any central government presence, they are not in a position to do much for now,” said Noman Benotman, a former Libyan jihadi now working in counterterrorism for the Quilliam Foundation.

"ISIS is a brand name, it has widespread recognition, and in the eyes of many adherents, it's successful." says Samer Shehata, an associate professor of Middle Eastern politics at the University of Oklahoma. Joining ISIL takes them from being little known to household names.

Libya Dawn claimed that it had intelligence reports showing that those who claimed to support Daesh in Tripoli were agents provocateur planted by foreign countries to discredit it.The statement implies that Daesh is present in eastern Libya, but is viewed as an attempt to explain away the growing issue of the extremists in the west. This despite the fact that Daesh (ISIL) flags have reportedly been seen recently in Tripoli and Daesh supporters are said to be present at the Majr camp in Zliten and in Sabratha.