[40] In August 2016, the Libyan National Army began a siege of the city,[41] which was tightened in 2017 following the Shura Council's execution of an air colonel whose plane was shot down near the town.

[42] While being ruled by the Shura Council, Derna served as center for al-Qaeda militants, most notably Hesham Ashmawy's Al-Mourabitoun network,[43][9] which regularly launched attacks against Egypt from Libya.

[47] The military warned local residents of the need to observe security measures, and in particular, called on the civilian population not to approach the militants' positions in the city.

[55] On 18 May, the LNA was working on dismantling the external defense lines of the terrorists inside the city – putting heavy pressure on the militants, who did not have a choice but to leave their hideouts and become an easy target for the army.

[56] On 22 May, The LNA announcer that Brigadier Abdul Hamid Werrfali, Commander of the 36th Brigade, had died in clashes southwest of Derna.

[57] The next day, Haftar announced that the LNA will intensify its offensive on the far eastern port city of Derna until it gained full control of the area.

[75] On 13 June, The Libya Observer released a video of 2 unarmed men in civilian clothes being tortured and executed by the LNA.

[76] On 14 June, Saleh Faraj, an officer patrolling areas under LNA control, stated that only "50 or 60 remnant" fighters of the DPF were still in Derna, and that they were now holed up in the central district of the city.

[79][80] On 24 June, looting, robberies and assaults on properties by the LNA forced tens of families to flee from the Bab Tobruk and Sahel areas.

Some began chanting, while others while honked their car horns in celebration and flashed the victory sign as army forces were seen keeping order on the streets.

[27] On 12 February, the 46 remaining fighters of the Derna Protection Force (DPF) surrendered themselves to the LNA, marking the dissolution of the group.

[13] Aftermath, it was revealed that the French DGSE Action Division, fought in the city alongside Haftar forces, with between 35 and 60 operators on the ground conducting raids and covering LNA troops with heavy mortars and counter sniper team.