An online communique attributed to Ansar al-Sharia said the group had decided to dissolve itself after being "weakened."

The international policy organization Counter Extremism Project reported that Ansar al-Sharia had suffered a number of setbacks in recent years, including prominent defections to the Islamic State (IS).

Pro al-Qaeda elements opposed to IS banded together to form a group called Majlis Mujahedeen which took another eastern Libyan city of Derna (pictured above) in 2015.

Derna targeted after attack on Copts

On Friday, eastern military strongman Khalifa Haftar said his forces had taken part in Egyptian air strikes on jihadist positions in Derna, hours after gunmen attacked a bus en route to a monastery south of Cairo, killing at least 29 Coptic Christians.

On Saturday that attack was claimed by IS.

Earlier this month, Haftar launched an offensive to oust jihadist fighters from two remaining strongholds in Benghazi, also in Libya's east and the fractured nation's second largest city.

Origin in Benghazi

Ansar al-Sharia sprung up in Benghazi after the overthrow and death of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

At its zenith, the group also had a presence in Derna, with offshoots in Sirte and Sabratha, western Libya.

In 2014, Ansar al-Sharia lost its leader, Mohammed Azahawi in clashes with Haftar's forces.

Ansar al-Sharia was accused by Washington of being behind theSeptember 11, 2012 attack on the US consulate in Benghazi.

Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans were killed.

Libya's rocky path to democracy Ousted after decades For more than 40 years, Moammar Gadhafi was the eccentric strongman in power in Libya. He was known for his odd behavior - and for his regime's ties to international terror groups. Libya was one of the countries swept up by the Arab Spring, and protests eventually turned into a civil war. Gadhafi fled but was eventually captured and killed In October, 2011.

Libya's rocky path to democracy Chance for peace After Gadhafi fell, the eyes of the world were on Libya in the hope that the country would have a smooth transition to democracy. By July 2012, democratic parliamentary elections had taken place, but it proved to be a challenge for the country's politicians to form a coalition and compromise on issues that would bring further stability.

Libya's rocky path to democracy Militias gaining strength Another problem facing Libya in the post-Gadhafi era was the rise of violent militias. While various armed groups did band together to topple the dictator, they did not have a common cause to rally around after his death. Instead, they fought each other. Terrorist groups were also on the rise in Libya, and staged a deadly attack on the US embassy in Benghazi on September 11, 2012.

Libya's rocky path to democracy Deeply divided Political divisions became deeper in the years following Gadhafi's ouster. The UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) is the internationally-recognized authority in Libya, but several factions on the ground are claiming a hold on power. Jihadist groups including the so-called 'Islamic State' have gained a significant foothold in the country, making any progress precarious.

Libya's rocky path to democracy Shifting sands At present, the Tripoli-based GNA controls parts of western and central Libya while Haftar's Libyan National Army holds much of the northeast. However, areas of power are constantly shifting due to ongoing "Islamic State" violence and the country's many different smaller factions.

Libya's rocky path to democracy Looking for help In recent weeks, Libya has reached out to NATO for assistance in strengthening the country's security institutions in an effort to end the power struggle between competing governments and militias. Leaders of two of the biggest groups - the GNA and the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army LNA - called for an end to the political and economic crises in the country. Author: Matt Zuvela



ipj/kl (AFP, AP, Reuters)