Libyan soldiers stand at a military outpost in Wadi Bey, west of the Islamic State-held city of Sirte, February 23, 2016. (Reuters)

Libyan militia claim arrest of ISIS leader

ISIS tried to take over Sabratha on Wednesday by storming the security headquarters and beheading fighters inside

Published: Updated:

A Libyan militia loyal to the Islamist-backed government in Tripoli says it arrested the leader of the ISIS branch for a western city bombed by US forces last week.

The Special Deterrent Force says in a Facebook post Thursday that it detained the city of Sabratha’s ISIS leader named Mohammed Saad al-Tajouri and killed dozens of ISIS members in a gunbattle. Al-Tajouri was also known as Abu Sulieman.

SDF says he was sent by ISIS leaders in Sirte - a central city controlled by the group - to take charge of Sabratha. The militia says it will release videos of the arrest and al-Tajouri’s purported confessions.

ISIS tried to take over Sabratha on Wednesday by storming the security headquarters and beheading at least 12 of the SDF fighters inside.

Get the latest stories from AlArabiya on Google News

Also Read

Before you go