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‘Haftar’s forces killed civilians, foreigners east of Benghazi’

November 17, 2016 at 3:02 pm

Libya’s Muslim Brotherhood yesterday condemned the military operation launched by Khalifa Haftar’s forces in the west of Benghazi, saying Libyan civilians and foreigners were killed in the operation, the Anadolu Agency reported.

Two days ago, Haftar forces launched military operations in Qanfouda and al-Qawarsha neighbourhoods in the west of Benghazi and controlled key sites, including Al-Qawarsha Gate.

Benghazi, Libya’s second largest city, has been witnessing armed clashes between Haftar’s forces from one side and Ansar Al-Sharia on the other. Dozens of Daesh fighters also exist in the city.

In a statement, the Muslim Brotherhood slammed the operation, saying: “We condemn the savage strikes, carried out by armed militias [affiliated to Haftar], which is still targeting trapped families in Qanfouda.”

The group expressed its “surprise over the local and international silence” towards Haftar’s operations, calling for an immediate halt in the “fight among the sons of the same country”.

At the same time, it blamed responsibility on the official sides in Libya for saving the trapped civilians and affording a secure passage to guarantee their safe exit.

Meanwhile, Colonel Milod Al-Zoy, spokesman of Haftar’s forces, told Anadolu that they have been carrying out a ground operation, with air cover, against terrorist organisations from Ansar Al-Sharia and Daesh in the western side of Benghazi.

He said that they controlled the Tripoli Highway in the west of Benghazi and a number of facilities in Al-Qawarsha used as military bases for “extremist groups”.