The battle for Benghazi intensified again this week after Hafter and his LNA forces announced another major push to oust militants from the city. Much of the focus this week has been on the Al-Hawari neighbourhood, most of which is still in the hands of the Benghazi Revolutionaries Shura Council. However, there was also fighting in Al-Laithi and Gar Younis.
Both sides suffered significant losses. Four Benghazi Revolutionaries Shura Council leaders were reported to have been killed in Al-Hawari, as were a number of Ansar Al-Sharia members. Ten LNA fighters were also killed while a further 40 were injured. Despite the LNA’s insistence that it is making progress, therefore, it is clear that the battle for Benghazi remains as intractable as ever.