Libya: 15 Killed and 43 wounded in Dawn clashes in Benghazi
By Staff Writer
Dawn clashes between Islamists and Libyan troops loyal to a rogue general, Khalifa Haftar pressing an offensive against jihadists has left 15 people and 43 wounded Monday June 2 in eastern city of Benghazi, Bengahzi Medical Centre (BMC) and the Jalaa Hospital said.
Spokesperson for Jalaa Hostpital, Fadia Barghathi, said eight dead and 15 injured had been received at the hospital. She added that among those dead there were seven soldiers loyal to General Khalifa Hafter’s “Libyan National Army” and one ambulance driver.
BMC’s spokesperson, Faraj Fathi Jahani said 28 injured and seven dead had been brought in throughout the morning. He said civilians, combatants and some children were among the casualties but could not give specific numbers as the number is expected to rise.
Commander of a Benghazi air base loyal to Haftar said the Islamists, including Ansar al-Sharia militants, attacked a base of elite Special Forces who support the renegade general, triggering the fighting.
The attacks came after Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb urged Libyans to fight Haftar and his so-called National Army, labeling the ex-army general an "enemy of Islam".
Fearing the violence might escalate, Benghazi Central Blood-bank has issued an urgent request for all blood donors to give blood at the city’s hospitals as they run on reserve supplies, while the education ministry closed schools.
Colonel Saad al-Werfelli said Ansar al-Sharia militants backed by fighters from two other Islamist groups "bombarded base 21 early on Monday, killing and wounding soldiers who were trapped inside".
The Libyan air force retaliated by launching strikes on the assailants, added the officer.
The air base and the elite special forces unit in Benghazi have thrown their support behind Haftar who last month launched an offensive against Islamists accused of repeated violence in the city.
The latest bloodshed comes a day after Haftar's who authorities have labeled as an outlaw has won over units from regular army forces, launched fresh air raids on Islamists in Benghazi, including a meeting of Ansar al-Sharia, said General Saqr al-Jerushi who heads air operations.
Since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that ousted veteran dictator Muamar Gadhafi, near-daily attacks blamed on radical Islamists have targeted security forces in Benghazi.
The violence is the deadliest since May 16, when Haftar launched "Operation Dignity" to crush the Islamists in eastern Libya and fighting then killed at least 76 people.
Last week Ansar al-Sharia threatened Haftar that he could end up like Kadhafi, who was killed by rebels eight months after the start of the revolt, and urged Libyans not to join his campaign.
Haftar, 71, who lived in exile in the United States before returning home to command ground forces in the uprising, says he has a popular mandate to act, after thousands held protests to support him in both Benghazi and Tripoli.