Ansar al-Sharia (Derna)

Ansar al-Sharia is the Derna based branch of a larger Libyan group; the branch is headed by Abu Sufian bin Qumu.[2] In 2011 bin Qumu became the leader of a band of fighters in his hometown of Derna during the 2011 Libyan civil war.[3] The group was reported as disbanding itself following the U.S. Consulate attack in Benghazi[4] however by late 2013 the group had re-emerged in the city as a branch of the Benghazi-based Ansar al-Sharia under the slogan "A step toward building the Islamic state".[5]

Ansar Al-Sharia (Derna, Libya)
Leaders	Abu Sufian bin Qumu (POW)
Dates of operation	2011–2018
Active regions	Eastern Libya (Cirenaica)
Part of	Shura Council of Mujahideen in Derna[1]
Allies	Abu Salim Martyrs Brigade Jaysh al-Islami al-Libi[1]
Opponents	Islamic State
Battles and wars	Second Libyan Civil War ISIL occupation of Derna

In December 2014, Ansar al-Sharia joined the Abu Salim Martyrs Brigade and Jaysh al-Islami al-Libi in an umbrella organisation called the Majlis Shura al-Mujahidin Derna (Derna Mujahidin Consultative Council). The group has been involved in fighting with the forces of General Khalifa Haftar in the Second Libyan Civil War.[1]

Ansar al-Sharia and the Majlis Shura al-Mujahidin Derna have opposed the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant presence in Derna.[1]