Libya Shield 1

Libya Shield 1 was an Islamist armed group in Benghazi and eastern Libya. It is nominally part of the Libya Shield Force and is a member of the Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries.^[3][4]

Libya Shield 1
درع ليبيا 1
Leaders	Wissam Ben Hamid †[1]
Dates of operation	3 August 2012 - December 2016
Headquarters	Ganfouda, Benghazi (until June 2015)[2]
Ideology	Islamism
Part of	Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries
Allies	Ansar al-Sharia
Battles and wars	Factional violence in Libya (2011–14) Second Libyan Civil War

History

The Libyan Ministry of Defense, under decision No. 29, formed and named Libya Shield Forces on 3 August 2012. Decision No. 29 states, "A brigade shall be formed in the Central Region of Libya and is to be called Libya Shield – The forces of the Central Brigade shall consist, in general, of rebels from the following regions, Misrata, Sirte, Jafra, Bani Walid, Terhuna, Alkhmuss, Mslath and Zliten. Colonel Mohammed Ibrahim Moussa shall be the commander of the brigade and shall be stationed in Misrata." This decision was signed by the Libya Minister of Defense, Osama Abdulsalam Aljuli bearing the name Libya Shield Forces.

Organization

The Libya Shield Force is nominally divided into three main brigades in eastern, central and western Libya to carry out law and order and combat tasks. Libya Shield 1 was part of the Eastern region of the force.

On social media, reactions to the group are favourable across Libya in comparison to other militias, particularly over its charitable work.^[5]

Another Benghazi unit, Shield 2, is considered more sympathetic to the federalists.^[6] The force reports to the Libyan defense ministry under the command of Wisam Bin Ahmid (or Humid), who commanded a Benghazi brigade called Free Libya Martyrs.