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TRIPOLI. — Fierce clashes erupted in Libya’s eastern city of Benghazi yesterday between Islamists and forces led by a retired general seeking to purge it of “terrorists”, an AFP journalist and witnesses said. The witnesses said a group led by Khalifa Haftar, a former rebel chief in the 2011 uprising that toppled strongman Muammar Gaddafi, was backed by warplanes that pounded barracks occupied by the Islamist “February 17 Brigade” militia.
Militiamen responded by opening up with anti-aircraft fire.
The two groups also clashed in the Sidi Fradj area of south Benghazi, the AFP journalist said.
Haftar’s group calls itself the “National Army” and a spokesman for the force, Mohammed Al-Hijazi, told a local broadcaster it has launched “a large-scale operation to flush terrorist groups out of Benghazi”.
However, the chief of staff of the regular army, Abdessalem Jadallah al-Salihin, denied the force was involved in clashes in Benghazi. — AFP.
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