Libyan Islamic Fighting Group
The Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG), also known as Al-Jama'a al-Islamiyyah al-Muqatilah bi-Libya (Arabic: الجماعة الإسلامية المقاتلة بليبيا), was an armed Islamist group. Militants participated in the 2011 Libyan Civil War as the Libyan Islamic Movement (al-Harakat al-Islamiya al-Libiya), and are involved in the Libyan Civil War as members of the Libya Shield Force. Alleged militants include alleged Al Qaeda organizer Abd al-Muhsin Al-Libi who now holds a key command position in the Libya Shield Force.
| Libyan Fighting Group (Al-Jama'a al-Islamiyyah al-Muqatilah bi-Libya) | |
|---|---|
| Leader | Abdelhakim Belhadj |
| Dates of operation | 1995–2017 |
| Motives | Overthrow Muammar Gaddafi and establish an Islamic state. |
| Active regions | Libya |
| Ideology | Salafi jihadism |
| Status | Delisted as Foreign Terrorist Organization by the US State Department Designated as Proscribed Group by the UK Home Office Sanctioned by the UN 1267 Committee. |
| Means of revenue | Mohammed Benhammedi Sanabal Charitable Committee |
In the 2011 civil war, members claim to have played a key role in deposing Muammar Gaddafi. The force was part of the National Transitional Council.
However the organisation has a troubled history being under pressure from Muammar Gaddafi and shortly after the September 11 attacks, LIFG was banned worldwide (as an affiliate of al-Qaeda) by the UN 1267 Committee. Listed at the Foreign Terrorist Organizations, the group has denied ever being affiliated with al-Qaeda, stating that it refused to join the global Islamic front Osama bin Laden declared against the west in 1998.