In early October, the Libyan National Army (LNA) stormed the city. residential real estate In the city of Derna, he succeeded in capturing the fugitive Egyptian militant Hisham al-Ashmawi, who was acting as the tactical leader of both Ansar Beit al-Maqdis and its offshoot Al-Mourabitoun. Almost immediately after news of his arrest broke, Egyptian authorities requested Ashmawi’s extradition, hoping to question him about about 20 attacks he had planned or carried out. Nevertheless, more than a month after Ashmawi’s arrest, the LNA has yet to extradite “Egypt’s most wanted man” to Cairo. In fact, according to some, sauceMr. Ashmawi may soon face trial in Libya.
It is unclear what impact Ashmawi’s failed extradition will have on relations between Cairo and the LNA. In recent years, in response to rebel attacks in Libya and general instability in the country, Egypt has expanded the scope of its military operations along its border with Libya, and is increasingly pursuing strategies such as that of de facto LNA leader Khalifa Haftar. We provide support to our partners. Controls eastern Libya.
In some ways, the LNA’s success in arresting people like Ashmawi is proof of its effectiveness as an ally and a sign that Egypt’s strategy is working.Nevertheless, the request for Ashmawi’s transfer came directly from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, whose government report The extradition will take place “within a week” of the arrest, but the LNA’s maneuver could jeopardize the organization’s relationship with Cairo.
Whether Mr. Ashmawi is extradited to Egypt or tried in a Libyan court, his extensive involvement with terrorist groups in both Egypt and Libya could be a valuable source of information for authorities. , authorities can use this knowledge to strengthen counterterrorism efforts.
One of the region’s most prominent fighters, Ashmawi is of particular importance because of his military experience as a major in the Egyptian Thunderbolts. Ashmawi, who was fired in 2011 for religious extremism, served in the Egyptian military for 15 years and was trained in the United States through the Navy SEAL program.
As a result of this military experience, Ashmawi helped Ansar Bait al-Maqdis develop a combat training program that incorporated methods such as ambushes and lightning strikes, which claimed the lives of many soldiers. His excellent geographical knowledge of the western desert also allowed him to smuggle heavy weapons across the long border between Egypt and Libya. In addition, Ashmawi managed to recruit a number of other defectors from the Egyptian army, including former officer Emad Abdel Hamid, who was involved in planning the 2017 Oasis attack.
Ashmawi himself has been involved in numerous incidents, including the October 2017 Bahariya Oasis attack, in which numerous security personnel were killed and one kidnapped, and the initial Farafra operation in July 2014, which resulted in fatalities. He is responsible for the terrorist attack. 28 soldiers. Ashmawi has also targeted individual high-ranking officials, including an attempted assassination of then-Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim in 2013 and the successful assassination of Egyptian Prosecutor General Hisham Barakat near his home in Heliopolis in June 2015. I have to.
Through these and other attacks, Ashmawi demonstrated his military’s ability to combine military tactics with al-Qaeda ideology in inflicting massive human casualties on the Egyptian military.
An Egyptian court had previously sentenced Mr. Ashmawi to death by hanging in absentia for widespread acts of terrorism. Ironically, Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi issued a similar ruling for his adherence to the teachings of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. Mr. Ashmawi, like other members of the Ansar Beit al-Maqdis faction, refused to swear allegiance to Mr. al-Baghdadi as caliph, leading to his split from the group and the formation of al-Murabiton in July 2015.
In fact, three years ago, Ashmawi went so far as to say on his YouTube channel that Baghdadi’s caliphate was “unorthodox,” adding, “I do not recognize that caliphate and Muslims should pledge allegiance to it.” It’s not,” he said. The relative weakness of al-Murabitoun after its split from Ansar Beit al-Maqdis forced Ashmawi to flee to Libya, but his terrorist activities continued until his recent arrest.
Now that Ashmawi is in the hands of the LNA, security forces have the opportunity to learn more about the activities of al-Mourabitoun members, allies, sleeper cells, and other jihadist groups in the region. In fact, since his arrest, Ashmawi has reportedly revealed Information about more than 100 militants currently taking refuge in Derna, a mass grave in the city that contains the bodies of prominent al-Qaeda fighters. method Al Qaeda had previously recruited him to form a unit within the Egyptian army.
Despite current pressure to execute Ashmawi, authorities would be wise to keep him. alive. Egyptian and Libyan authorities should use Ashmawi as a case study, given the intimate details and critical information he can provide regarding terrorist organization structures, tactical innovations, and recruitment tactics. If this terrorist were alive, the reasons and circumstances that allowed al-Qaeda to place operatives within the Egyptian army, and the terrorist group’s success in recruiting officers to prevent the success of this tactic in the future It may help authorities understand the reasons and circumstances.