Heavy fighting was reported in and around the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi today, where troops loyal to the Tobruk government fought Islamist forces that they reported were allied with ISIS, the latest in over a year of such offensives. At least 16 fighters were reported killed.
The Tobruk Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Gen. Khalifa Hifter, declared its intention to “liberate” Benghazi over a year ago, and has moved against districts in the city intermittently every since. Today, LNA officials claimed some progress in parts of a pair of districts, and in capturing an ISIS camp.
ISIS, however, is not the primary faction in control of Benghazi, a city which is under the sway of several different Islamist groups, some of them openly hostile to ISIS. Like many major cities in Libya, they have not been under the direct control of any of the would-be governments in awhile, and have so far proven incredibly resistant to outside offensives.
The Tobruk government is recognized by the UN as the “legitimate” Libyan government, though it controls little territory. The Tripoli-based government itself controls not much more territory, and the UN has made some efforts to uniting the two sides into a unity government.
"Fighting ISIS",is the biggest lie.ISIS has become a label to be used designate any group ,faction.or individuals that stand in the way of Khalifa Hifter long dream of becoming the next Libyan dictator.He and his children have enriched themselves beyond belief using that racket of fighting extremism,or terrorism.He has achieved nothing but the total destruction of Benghazi on behalf of the United Arab Emirates tyrants.He is only doing UAE's biddings and followng its plans.
"The United Arab Emirates was shipping weapons to favored belligerents in Libya over the summer in violation of an international arms embargo while simultaneously offering a highly paid job to the United Nations diplomat drafting a peace accord there, leaked Emirati emails show.
The leaked correspondence is threatening to undermine months of Libyan talks by tarring the diplomat with an apparent conflict of interest. The emails also open a new window into the hidden and contradictory machinations of regional players like the United Arab Emirates that have helped inflame the fighting even as their diplomats say they support a peaceful solution." http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/11/13/world/middle…