Libya Arrests Suspected al-Qaeda Leader, Source Reports

Tripoli – Libyan officials have apprehended a suspected al Qaeda leader who had escaped from the eastern city of Derna, previously known as a stronghold for jihadists, according to a source from the attorney general’s office.

Abdel Qader Azuz was captured in Misrata, a city in the western part of the country, and subsequently transported to the capital, Tripoli. Further details regarding his arrest have not been disclosed.

Libyan authorities have identified Azuz as a prominent militant in Derna, a city that has historically been a center for Islamist militants. Many of these militants left Libya to evade persecution under Muammar Gaddafi, later participating in conflicts in Afghanistan before returning following Gaddafi’s ousting in 2011.

Eastern military forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar, which have control over eastern Libya, are currently engaged in a military campaign aimed at securing much of Derna, a mission they report is nearing completion.

It remains uncertain if Libyan authorities received support from the United States, which has previously conducted operations to capture militants in Libya or provided assistance to local forces. This arrest follows a visit to Misrata by Peter Bodde, the U.S. charge d’affaires for Libya, who is stationed in Tunis.