Fighting rages in Benghazi after victory speech

East Libyan forces have lost at least 12 men, with 35 wounded, in fighting that raged in Benghazi despite a declaration of victory by their commander, medical and military officials said on Friday.

Forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) are trying to sweep up the last pockets of resistance in Sabri, the final neighbourhood in which rival armed groups still hold territory after a three-year battle for control of the city.

The battle for Benghazi between Haftar’s LNA and an array of Islamist militants and other fighters has been part of a broader conflict since Libya slipped into turmoil following the 2011 fall of strongman Muammar Gaddafi.

On Wednesday evening, Haftar announced the end of the campaign in a televised speech.

But two days later clashes were continuing in a handful of streets in Sabri. LNA forces said they had stopped using heavy artillery to reduce the risk of friendly fire casualties because of the restricted area in which they were fighting.

Milad al-Zwai, a spokesman for special forces who are at the forefront of the fighting, said they had freed 10 prisoners held by their opponents as they pushed forward in Sabri.

At least five of the LNA’s opponents were killed and …read more