Anti – 19 October 2015

Oct 19, 2015 | Libyan actors

In Benghazi, Haftar’s Operation Dignity/Doom air forces continue to pound territories held by the Benghazi Revolutionaries Shoura Council (BRSC) forces. Despite the new deadline issued by Haftar to purge Benghazi of BRSC forces, these forces have intensified battles throughout last week, reportedly inflicting a lot of damage in ranks of the LNA. Fighting continues on more than five fronts (Lithi, Sidi Faraj, Hawari, Sabri), with continued mortar shelling of Benina airbase by BRSC forces. The tight aerial blockade by Haftar’s air force continues to restrict the city’s ports, as another trawler suspected of carrying weapons and supplies to BRSC forces was struck. In Derna, fighting continues between IS and the local jihadist group, the Derna Mujahedeen Shoura Council (DMSC) albeit with lower intensity than previous weeks.

Increased IS hostility in Sirte this week is fuelled by the losses of IS in Derna and other areas. This week, a key IS commander was captured in Derna, while another was assassinated by locals of Ben Jawwad affiliated with Jadhran’s PFG.