You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Africa North
Libya airstrike foils Ansar al-Sharia attack
2014-08-11
[MAGHAREBIA] An air assault by Operation Dignity forces allegedly killed 70 Ansar al-Sharia
...a Salafist militia which claims it is not part of al-Qaeda, even though it works about the same and for the same ends. There are groups of the same name in Libyaand Yemen, with the Libyan versions currently most active. Tunisia's Shabaab al-Tawhid started out an Ansar al-Sharia and changed its name in early 2014. It still uses the old name now and then, probably because the stationery's not all used up and the web site hasn't expired yet...
and other Islamist fighters near Benghazi, Libya Herald reported on Thursday (August 7th).

The Islamists were bombarded in Maghzana overnight as they tried to approach the Benina airbase in Benghazi, according to Brigadier-General Saqr Adam Geroushi, the commander of Operation Dignity's air forces.

Saiqa Special Forces
...Libya's elite army unit, insofar as they have one, formed from a mixture of paratroopers and commandos. The group emerged from a militia with the same name in 2010. It now numbers a few thousand and reports to the Ministry of Defence. It deployed in Benghazi in an attempt to control the carnage. As a result, it has been attacked and several of its officers murdered. The force is popular in Benghazi for its stance against Ansar al-Sharia group...
moved to the Benina base nine days ago after they were forced out of their Buatni headquarters by Ansar al-Sharia.
Posted by:Fred

#3  That's why so many of them are leaving town.

And those remaining are hunkering down.
Posted by: Bill Clinton   2014-08-11 17:33  

#2  "The average Libyan wants nothing to do with Sharia law, nor do they support the militias in any way."
Average Libyans don't count for much.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418    2014-08-11 14:03  

#1  According to my sources in Libya, there is a complete disconnect between the central government and the man on the street.

The average Libyan wants nothing to do with Sharia law, nor do they support the militias in any way. They want the Libyan Army to squash the militias like a bug.

Most of them believe the militias that have not disbanded as either left over Qaddafi supporters or radical Islamists who want to turn Libya into some kind of crazy crap Taliban type paradise.

Many of them are fleeing Tripoli in droves, fearing an Islamic take over as those militias seem to have the best weapons and finances.
Posted by: Bill Clinton   2014-08-11 12:38  

00:00