Al-Qaeda militants fight Islamic State in Libya over leader’s killing

Al-Qaeda-linked militants are battling an Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) affiliate in eastern Libya after one of their leaders was shot dead, AP reported. Nasr Akr, an Al-Qaeda-inspired militant, was assassinated along with his aide in the eastern town of Darna. The Shura Council of Darna’s jihadists announced his killing on Wednesday, blaming it on Islamic State militants. The killing sparked heavy fighting, leaving at least nine IS militants dead, according to witnesses. The so-called Islamic State seized control of Darna last year. The IS group began as an Al-Qaeda affiliate, but later fell out with the jihadist network.