By Nadia Radhwan in Benghazi for Magharebia
23/10/2014
Libyan army forces on Wednesday (October 22nd) entered Sidi Khalifa in the eastern suburbs of Benghazi with little resistance from Shura Revolutionary Council fighters.
The army's reconnaissance vehicles were met with cheers and applause by citizens in the al-Wahaishi and al-Salam neighborhoods.
Meanwhile, the air force on Wednesday evening targeted the headquarters of Raf Allah al-Sahati brigade, one of the biggest terror strongholds in the al-Hawari area.
Fighter jets also attacked the al-Quarshah gate, another terrorist stronghold. Supplies coming from western Libya to terrorist groups in the east pass through the gate.
The Libyan army said terrorist Tawfik Makhlouf al-Hejazi and his son were killed following desperate resistance after he refused to turn himself in. The event capped several developments on a tense day in the Deriana area, east of Benghazi.
A suicide bomber attacked a security checkpoint in the same area early Wednesday morning, AFP reported. One person was killed and four were wounded in the car bombing.
At least 10 others were slain in Benghazi on Wednesday, bringing the death toll in the recent clashes to 110 people.
The army declared a curfew in Benghazi from 7:00pm Wednesday to 7:00am Thursday and warned that it would open fire on any movement, especially in areas where the terrorist group Ansar al-Sharia is active.
Benghazi district youths shared a circular on social networking websites in which they warned about three large garbage trucks loaded with snipers and suicide bombers on their way to al-Salam neighborhood where the army's reconnaissance vehicles entered. Pictures of al-Hejazi going around that area Wednesday evening were also shared on social networking websites.
Meanwhile, a Libyan soldier was killed Wednesday evening as he dismantled a landmine in Sidi Mansour, east of Benghazi.
Two decomposed bodies were also found in Sidi Mansour as the army combed the area and cleared explosives and landmines.
Skirmishes continue around the February 17th Brigade camp as remnants of the Islamist forces battle the Libyan army's 204th Tank Battalion and 21st Special Operations Battalion. The army is combing the area, prompting fierce battles between the Special Forces and the extremists at the university campus, which they penetrated after their February 17th Brigade base was captured by the army. As a result, shells hit the public administration building.
The army also said it had cleared Benina and Sidi Faraj of extremist militias, which had controlled them for months.
"We express our respect and appreciation to our army's officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers for their great sacrifices for Libyans," commented Marwan al-Kharam, a 35-year-old journalist. "We pray to God to have mercy on those who died for the true Islam, not the Islam of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), and on those who died for truth, homeland, pride, honor and dignity."
For her part, lawyer Najlaa al-Zaydi said: "The internal security and intelligence agency must be activated as of now in Benghazi. We call upon all former security agencies to return to work."
"We also call upon all honest people and heroes, all those who love Benghazi, the cradle of revolution, our land and home, which has always been generous to everyone, all military units and all those whose hands haven't been stained with blood, to return to work and join the army. Those who fail to do that will be deemed as traitors who have no place among honest people," she added.
"This is the hour of decisiveness," al-Zayda said.
Source: Magharebia.
Link: http://magharebia.com/en_GB/articles/awi/features/2014/10/23/feature-01.
23/10/2014
Libyan army forces on Wednesday (October 22nd) entered Sidi Khalifa in the eastern suburbs of Benghazi with little resistance from Shura Revolutionary Council fighters.
The army's reconnaissance vehicles were met with cheers and applause by citizens in the al-Wahaishi and al-Salam neighborhoods.
Meanwhile, the air force on Wednesday evening targeted the headquarters of Raf Allah al-Sahati brigade, one of the biggest terror strongholds in the al-Hawari area.
Fighter jets also attacked the al-Quarshah gate, another terrorist stronghold. Supplies coming from western Libya to terrorist groups in the east pass through the gate.
The Libyan army said terrorist Tawfik Makhlouf al-Hejazi and his son were killed following desperate resistance after he refused to turn himself in. The event capped several developments on a tense day in the Deriana area, east of Benghazi.
A suicide bomber attacked a security checkpoint in the same area early Wednesday morning, AFP reported. One person was killed and four were wounded in the car bombing.
At least 10 others were slain in Benghazi on Wednesday, bringing the death toll in the recent clashes to 110 people.
The army declared a curfew in Benghazi from 7:00pm Wednesday to 7:00am Thursday and warned that it would open fire on any movement, especially in areas where the terrorist group Ansar al-Sharia is active.
Benghazi district youths shared a circular on social networking websites in which they warned about three large garbage trucks loaded with snipers and suicide bombers on their way to al-Salam neighborhood where the army's reconnaissance vehicles entered. Pictures of al-Hejazi going around that area Wednesday evening were also shared on social networking websites.
Meanwhile, a Libyan soldier was killed Wednesday evening as he dismantled a landmine in Sidi Mansour, east of Benghazi.
Two decomposed bodies were also found in Sidi Mansour as the army combed the area and cleared explosives and landmines.
Skirmishes continue around the February 17th Brigade camp as remnants of the Islamist forces battle the Libyan army's 204th Tank Battalion and 21st Special Operations Battalion. The army is combing the area, prompting fierce battles between the Special Forces and the extremists at the university campus, which they penetrated after their February 17th Brigade base was captured by the army. As a result, shells hit the public administration building.
The army also said it had cleared Benina and Sidi Faraj of extremist militias, which had controlled them for months.
"We express our respect and appreciation to our army's officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers for their great sacrifices for Libyans," commented Marwan al-Kharam, a 35-year-old journalist. "We pray to God to have mercy on those who died for the true Islam, not the Islam of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), and on those who died for truth, homeland, pride, honor and dignity."
For her part, lawyer Najlaa al-Zaydi said: "The internal security and intelligence agency must be activated as of now in Benghazi. We call upon all former security agencies to return to work."
"We also call upon all honest people and heroes, all those who love Benghazi, the cradle of revolution, our land and home, which has always been generous to everyone, all military units and all those whose hands haven't been stained with blood, to return to work and join the army. Those who fail to do that will be deemed as traitors who have no place among honest people," she added.
"This is the hour of decisiveness," al-Zayda said.
Source: Magharebia.
Link: http://magharebia.com/en_GB/articles/awi/features/2014/10/23/feature-01.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.