Fikri Makras, the executioner featured in many of the images and videos of be-headings and other punishments that took place at the central mosque in Derna since IS took over late last year, was reportedly killed in clashes in the city last week. After its defeat in Derna, IS has been largely expelled from its strongest foothold outside Iraq and Syria. Although Benghazi battles rage on and the organisation still retains Sirte, arguably a more threatening post, Derna was supposed to have been in their vice grip.

Instead, a strange assortment of ad-hoc partners encompassing extremist militias, local residents, and both ground and air assets associated with General Khalifa Haftar, have quickly kicked the group out of the city. Misratan forces also allegedly launched an airstrike against IS at the former internal security building in Sirte late on 21 June, killing 17 fighters.

The Libyan National Army made gains against IS in the suburbs of Derna this week, including expelling them from Ras Al-Hilal and Athrun to the west. More extreme militias also reportedly killed dozens of IS fighters on 20 June.

In one sign that some normality has been restored, traffic officers in Derna returned to work. The Libyan flag immediately replaced the IS flag, and the main square of the mosque used for executions was whitewashed. Children walked through the streets picking up the garbage that had not been collected during IS occupation, and shopkeepers resumed selling cigarettes, illegal under IS. Mahmoud Al-Drissi, an IS leader in the city, was also reportedly killed on 21 June.

Despite the city’s reputation for harbouring members of extremist groups like Al-Qa’ida in Iraq and IS, the residents of Derna have been fighting to build a new reputation as a centre for progressiveness and open-mindedness. After the revolution, Derna’s civil society bloomed for a short period of time.

This is an excerpt from an article in our weekly Libya Politics & Security publication.