In the oil crescent, the Benghazi Defense Brigade (BDB) claimed to have shot down a Libyan National Army (LNA) helicopter on 17 July near Magrun, 70 kilometers south of Benghazi. The LNA, however, said that the helicopter crashed as a result of technical failure. The four-member crew are reported to have been killed, but there is also confusion as to who they were. LNA sources say all were Libyans, while the BDB’s media outlet, Boshra News, claims two were foreigners. AP reports indicate that the two foreigners may have been members of French special forces. Meanwhile, the BDB managed to retake the towns of Sultan and Jelidia, which it had withdrawn from last week. LNA reinforcements had been mobilized to the area, but were unable to halt the BDB’s advance.
