Ansar al-Sharia (Libya)
| Ansar al-Sharia in Libya | |
|---|---|
| أنصار الشريعة بليبيا | |
| Leaders | Abu Khalid al Madani Mohamed al-Zahawi † |
| Dates of operation | June 2012 – 27 May 2017 |
| Active regions | Benghazi Other cities in Eastern Libya |
| Ideology | Islamism Salafi jihadism Anti-Gaddafism |
| Size | 4,500–5,000+ |
| Part of | Ansar al-Sharia Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries Shura Council of Mujahideen in Derna Ajdabiya Shura Council |
| Allies | |
| Opponents | Al-Saiqa (Libya) Operation Dignity coalition |
| Battles and wars | Insurgency in the Maghreb (2002–present) |
| Designated as a terrorist group by | Iraq Turkey United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United Nations United States |
Ansar al-Sharia in Libya (ASL, Arabic: أنصار الشريعة بليبيا, lit. 'Supporters of Sharia') was an Al-Qaeda-aligned Salafi Jihadist militia group that advocated the implementation of Sharia across Libya. Ansar al-Sharia came into being in 2011, during the Libyan Civil War. Until January 2015, it was led by its "Amir", Muhammad al-Zahawi. As part of its strategy, the organization targeted specific Libyan and American civilians for death and took part in the 2012 Benghazi attack. The group was designated as a terrorist organization by the United Nations, Iraq, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.
On 27 May 2017, the group announced it was formally dissolving itself, amid heavy losses that killed most of its leadership and decimated its fighters.