Extremist militant Salah al-Berki killed along with three militia leaders on Saturday in an attack by the Libyan army near the capital Tripoli, 21 March 2015.


UPDATE: Another top extremist militant and a militia leader was killed in the army’s operation that took place on Saturday near Tripoli. the army operation of Saturday morning. Al-Faitouri al-Dardafi the commander of the al-Meshaal brigade of Misurata was also killed along with the four others mentioned below.


Tripoli— Four top militia leaders belong to the Libya Down, an anti-government coalition of militias, have been killed on Saturday in another blow to the extremist militants who have allied themselves with the Islamic State terrorists.

The incident occurred early Saturday when information reached the Libyan army command in Azizya city, 30 kms southwest of Tripoli, that a group of senior militia leaders were spotted in the vicinity.

A special military force was ordered to deal with the group which accomplished the mission by attacking them with small and medium weapons killing and wounding a large number of militants including the four top terrorists.

They include Salah al-Berki, head of the Abu Salim Military Council militia of Tripoli; Usama Makrem, leader of Takifiri Fourkan militia of Misurata; al-Mazeq al-Mazeq, leader of Tajeen Militia of Misurata and Hamdi Ali Rajab, leader of Mohamed Kilani’s militia of Zawia which belongs to the group of militias under the control of Al Qaeda affiliated terrorist Shaaban Hadiya known by Abu Ubaida.

Another top leader of Libya Dawn, Walid Ismail who was the head of al-Marsa militia of Misurata, was also killed in Sirte on Saturday.

The four are top extremist militant operatives who have been leading the attack on the legitimate government since June 2015. Their elimination of these leaders represents a hit at the control and command structure of these militias and helps the Libyan national army in its efforts to take control of the capital Tripoli.

The news of latest victories by army and its advance on Tripoli have led many militant leaders to exit the city and many families of Misurata militia leaders to leave the country as a whole.

The killing of these militants underlines the seriousness of the internationally recognized government in fighting terrorists.

The Libyan tribal leaders who met Saturday in Tobruk unanimously rejected the United Nations sponsored talks in Morocco with these militias’ leaders. The tribal leaders also blamed the UN Special Envoy to Libya Bernardino Leon for playing a suspicious role in these talks aimed at bringing down the democratically elected House of Representatives.

Residents of the crowded Hay Abu Salim district in downtown Tripoli celebrated the news of the death of Salah al-Berki and expressed relief as the ruthless extremist militant was a symbol of oppression, blackmailing and violence, the Libyan news agency reported Saturday.

Al-Berki was a top leader of the Fighting Group (Jamaat al Muqatila), an affiliated Al Qaeda group that fought Muammar Gaddafi regime for years, and was the right hand man of the well known terrorist Abdul Hakim Belhaj.

Al-Berki imposed royalties on all shops and business in Abu Salim district, opened several café shops in the car market, took control of a public shopping center, took over government facilities for private and militia use as well as money laundering activities.

He was the boss of the criminal Ghanaiwa al-Kikli, another thug with the Libya Dawn, who has also committed scores of crimes against innocent people in the capital and run a private prison where civilians were tortured and killed.