The Fall of Nofaliya refers to the takeover of the town of
Nofaliya in
Sirte District,
Libya
Libya, officially the State of Libya, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to Egypt–Libya border, the east, Sudan to Libya–Sudan border, the southeast, Chad to Chad–L ...
, by the self-declared
Islamic State
The Islamic State (IS), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Daesh, is a transnational Salafi jihadism, Salafi jihadist organization and unrecognized quasi-state. IS ...
in February 2015.
Events
On 8 February 2015, a convoy of 40 heavily armed
4WD vehicles drove 140 km from
Sirte, where ISIL has a significant presence, into the town of Nofaliya. Some vehicles displayed the
flag of ISIL, and the convoy reportedly included many foreign fighters. Upon their arrival, the fighters ordered Nofaliya's residents to "repent" and pledge allegiance to
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The fighters appointed Ali Al-Qarqaa as
emir
Emir (; ' (), also Romanization of Arabic, transliterated as amir, is a word of Arabic language, Arabic origin that can refer to a male monarch, aristocratic, aristocrat, holder of high-ranking military or political office, or other person po ...
of the town.
A day after Nofaliya was taken over, ISIL reinforced the entrances into the town to prevent sunrise attacks. A video of the takeover was also posted on the social media.
According to ''
Libya Herald'', with Nofaliya under its control, ISIL would be able to control the
Libyan Coastal Highway. As 16 February 2015, ISIL also controls the city of
Derna,
Sirte, and has a presence in
Tripoli and
Sabratha.
Nofaliya was retaken by
New General National Congress forces on 19 March 2015.
However, after GNC retook Nofaliya, they withdrew from Nofaliya and bin Jawad on 20 March because of ISIL's offensive. They withdrew from there after only two days. ISIL is setting up checkpoints after they retook the city from GNC on 28 March. On 30 March, Al-Monitor reported that Nofaliya, Sirte, and Derna were still under the control of ISIL.
Nofaliya was captured by pro-government forces on 31 May 2016.
See also
*
List of wars and battles involving ISIL
*
Fall of Mosul
*
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant occupation of Derna
*
February 2015 Egyptian airstrikes in Libya
*
Battle of Sirte (2015)
References
{{Portal bar, Libya
February 2015 in Libya
Military operations of the Libyan civil war (2014–2020) in 2015
Military operations of the Libyan civil war (2014–2020) involving the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant