270 of Haftar’s forces killed in Benghazi

Some 268 special forces affiliated with the Tobruk-based parliament in Eastern Libya were killed in 2016, according to a statement issued by the group.

The forces, which are loyal to General Khalifa Haftar, have been engaged in ongoing battles with the Benghazi Revolutionaries Shura Council, which had taken part in ousting Muammar Qaddafi in 2011; Ansar Al-Sharia and Daesh fighters.

Haftar’s special forces added that 500 of its fighters were injured in 2016.

These losses are among the special forces, other forces affiliated with the Tobruk-based government have not announced the size of their losses. Neither have the Benghazi Revolutionaries Shura Council, which are fighting against Tobruk.

In the statement, the Tobruk-affiliated special forces said that their losses have been incurred during battles in the Benghazi areas of Abu Itny, Al-Laithi, Al-Muhashhash, Al-Hawari, Si Faraj, Al-Qawarsha and Busnaib. Some of the battles are still ongoing.

On 16 May 2014, retired army General  Haftar launched the Karama military operation against the revolutionary brigades and Ansar Al-Sharia, claiming that they were responsible for the deteriorating security situation in Benghazi and a series of assassinations that were on the rise in the city at the time. His actions were in defiance of the government and army’s positions at the time.

Other government entities considered Haftar’s move to be an “illegitimate coup” that took place without state permission.

However, other government entities later acknowledged Haftar’s actions, especially after the July 2014 election of the Tobruk-based parliament which supported Haftar’s military operation and promoted him as the Libyan army’s top commander.