Libya: February 17 Martyrs Brigade islamists resist assault by army on Benghazi
Islamist militias held their ground on Thursday in the face of an assault by an ex-general backed by army units aimed at retaking Libya’s second city of Benghazi, military sources said.
Medics, revising an earlier toll, said at least 25 people had been killed in 24 hours of fighting since early Wednesday, when Khalifa Haftar’s forces launched what he called an operation to “liberate” Benghazi.
Tanks spearheaded attacks on an Islamist militia, the “February 17 Martyrs Brigade,” while warplanes carried out raids on its headquarters in a western suburb of the Mediterranean city.
The army and Haftar’s forces said they captured the February 17 headquarters after several hours of clashes yesterday.
But military sources said today that Islamist fire forced pro-government forces were later forced to withdraw from the former army base.