Tripoli: In a significant breakthrough, the Libyan government has apprehended a high-ranking leader of the notorious terrorist organization Daesh, responsible for orchestrating and funding three fatal attacks that shook the capital city, Tripoli, in 2018. The announcement was made by Abdelhamid Dbeibah, the head of the United Nations-backed Libyan government, during a live televised address on Thursday.
The unnamed Daesh operative was taken into custody on Tuesday as a result of a meticulously coordinated joint military operation. Although specific details regarding the identity and nationality of the captured jihadist were not disclosed by the government's media office, it was underscored that the individual played a pivotal role in planning and commanding the series of heinous assaults that targeted key national institutions and claimed the lives of prominent officials.
The Libyan premier reaffirmed his government's unwavering commitment to combat terrorism in all its manifestations. Dbeibah emphasized their determination to bring those involved in these acts of terror to justice and to fortify stability across the nation.
Also Read: US Intelligence Suggests Deliberate Blast in Downing of Wagner Chief's Aircraft
The attacks orchestrated by the apprehended Daesh leader cast a dark shadow over Tripoli in 2018. The most devastating of these incidents occurred on May 2, when a suicide bombing at the headquarters of the Libyan High Electoral Commission resulted in the tragic loss of 14 lives. Another harrowing episode unfolded on September 10, as a suicide attack targeting the headquarters of the Libyan National Oil Company claimed the lives of two individuals and left 10 company staff members injured. The year concluded with yet another heart-wrenching event on December 25, as a Daesh-claimed attack on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs resulted in the deaths of three people, including a Libyan diplomat.
Also Read: Putin sends his condolences to the Prigozhin family, the head of Wagner
Daesh's opportunistic exploitation of Libya's post-2011 security vacuum, following the fall of former dictator Muammar Qaddafi, allowed the group to execute multiple deadly operations across the nation. The terrorist organization managed to establish strongholds in towns such as Derna and Sirte, after being dislodged from these areas in 2018 and 2016, respectively.
Also Read: Ukraine asserts that Crimea was landed in a special operation
The apprehension of this key Daesh figure marks a notable triumph for Libyan security forces and underscores the government's resolve to counteract terrorism and restore stability in the face of extremist threats.