Pro-government forces fighting under the banner of the Libyan National Army (LNA) have claimed control of 17 February Brigade’s central Benghazi camp nine days after they initially announced victory there.
A member of 204 Tank Battalion told the Libya Herald that his unit had completely destroyed the camp, driving out any remaining Benghazi Revolutionaries Shura Council (BRSC) forces there.
Residents in Garyounis and other areas near to the sprawling camp reported some of the worst clashes they had witnessed in recent days. They said the heavy fighting began at around 7 am and continued well into the afternoon.
Before the apparent pacification of the 17 February Brigade camp, Saqr Adam Geroushi, a leading LNA air force commander told the Libya Herald that victory over the BRSC position had been become harder as Islamist militiamen took refuge in homes, engaged in fighting dangerously close to residential areas, and deployed snipers in around places such as Suq Al-Hood in central Benghazi.
Geroushi said because of the tactics used by Islamist forces in Benghazi the LNA was unable to effectively carry out airstrikes on their positions or employ the artillery at their disposal.
While the fighting has subsided at the BRSC camp it has continued in Gwarsha, Bel Awn and Al-Habba. The LNA claimed a symbolic victory at the entrance to Gwarsha two days ago taking out a strategic Ansar Al-Sharia checkpoint and weapons cache. Residents have also reported the arrival of LNA forces in Shibna.
Noora Ibrahim
