On January 16, Wilayat Barqa of the Islamic State released a video entitled “The Meaning Perseverance 2,” showcasing IS operations in the Laithi neighborhood of Benghazi. The video shows IS fighters training in an undisclosed location, a SVBIED (Suicide Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device) on the Airport Road between Buatni and Laithi, military operations including an up-armored bulldozer and BMP, audio clips from Abu Mughaira al-Qahtani and Abu Mohammad al-Adnani, and a speech from Abu Omar al-Muhajir.

The first segment of the video features a highly produced training scene in which fighters drill with small arms execute basic squad maneuvers. There is no indication that the training is particularly advanced, but it does indicate a level of sophistication and preparedness that was absent from IS operations in Libya prior to 2015.

Following the training scenes, the video focuses on a March 2015 military operation in Laithi targeting a LNA-held area. The IS offensive begins with an SVBIED driven by a young Tunisian man, Abu Yaqin al-Tunisi, targeting an LNA barracks near the Airport Road.

Following the SVBIED attack, which was watched by the assault team via drone footage, an element of roughly 20 IS fighters stormed the area supported by an armored bulldozer and an up-armored BMP. The organization has recently begun welding steel plates to many of its vehicles, a technique that was initiated in Iraq and Syria roughly a year ago to protect its fighters and suicide bombers from the RPGs and ATGMs supplied to anti-IS forces in the Levant. It is unclear whether IS began this in Libya in response to LNA successes or simply as a preventative measure.

Corroborating evidence is unavailable, but the video presents the assault as a success for the Islamic State, showing the bodies of 15–20 LNA fighters; a captured T-55 and technical, and a large quantity of small arms and ammunition. During the battle scenes, a destroyed SUV is shown with a reference to the 21st al-Saiqa Force (LNA) spray-painted on the front. The video captions reads “the leader of 21st al-Saiqa Battalion ‘Salem Afarit’ was targeted, resulting in his death.” Afarit was killed last July during anti-IS operations and it is unclear why his death was brought up in this video or how it was connected to this SUV.

The video concludes with a short speech supporting the Caliphate by Abu Omar al-Muhajr. al-Muhajr’s identity or role in the organization is unknown. His name, a clear pseudonym, indicates that he is not Libyan, but there are no additional clues to his country of origin.

In addition to the scenes shown in the video, two interesting audio speeches are included. The first is a short clip of previously unheard audio from Abu Mugairia al-Qahtani, the recently deceased leader of IS in Libya. Nothing of substance is said in the clip, but al-Qahtani speaks in clear and unaccented Arabic, which is unexpected from a man identified as a former rural policeman from Iraq. The second clip is from a well-known speech by Abu Mohammad al-Adnani in which he threatens that the Islamic State will march on Rome.

“The Meaning of Perseverance 2” Video is a standard IS video, both in the high quality of production and in the actual demonstration of military capabilities intermingled with religious speeches and propaganda. However, the video also shows the limits of IS’ forces in Laithi, namely that they have only a limited number of vehicles and heavy weaponry, and little artillery. It gives a glimpse into IS’ Wilayat Barqa’s presence in eastern Benghazi, and its ability to carry out military operations in the city.