Special to WorldTribune.com

A skilled sniper is said to be assassinating Islamic State of Iraq and Levant’s (ISIL’s) top leaders in Libya.

Three commanders at ISIL’s Libyan stronghold in Sirte have been shot dead from long range in recent weeks, according to a report by the London Telegraph, citing local Libyan media.

Social media reports from Sirte said the most recent assassination occurred on Jan. 23 when Abdullah Hamad Al-Ansari, ISIL’s commander from the southern Libyan city of Obari, was killed by sniper fire after leaving a mosque.

Earlier this month, Hamad Abdel Hady, a Sudanese official in ISIL’s newly-convened Sharia court, was struck down by a sniper’s bullet outside a hospital.

“A state of terror prevailed among the ISIL ranks after his death,” a witness told the al-Wasat website. “They randomly shot in the air to scare inhabitants, while searching for the sniper.”

Observers have speculated that the mystery sniper could be a militiaman from neighboring Misrata, whose security forces fought ISIL for control of Sirte before pulling out. Others say it could be a sniper in a contingent of American special forces soldiers who are said to be gathering intelligence on ISIL in the region.

Whether or not any of the speculators are correct, Sirte residents are said to be ecstatic over the killing of the ISIL commanders as few in the city support the terror organization.

  Misrata, Report: Sirte residents ecstatic as secret sniper picks off ISIL commanders in Libya, Sirte, WorldTribune.com