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| Africa North |
| LNA reports to have taken Azizia and Zahra from Libya Dawn; Salah Badi and Khaled Sharif deny it |
| 2015-03-23 |
| [Libya Herald] Following yesterday's reported advances between Ghariyan and Aziziya by Libya National Army forces, it is claimed that they have taken the Warshefana towns of Aziziya and Zahra today from Libya Dawn ...aka Fajr Libya, the Islamist operation launched to counter that of General Khalifa Haftar (Operation Dignity). It is made up of the Libya Shield militia (Misrata and Moslem Brotherhood), Libya Revolutionaries Operations Room (Moslem Brotherhood), and Tripoli Brigade (close to Abdul Hakim Belhaj, head of Al-Watan party). Financing and moral support come from Turkey and Qatar... . The latter's fighters are said to have left earlier. One report claims that LNA forces are now within 20 kilometres of Qasr Ben Gashir and Tripoli ...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn... 's destroyed international airport. However, ars longa, vita brevis... both Salah Badi ...a Misrata militia commander, self-appointed colonel and a member of the Wafa Islamist bloc. He was cashiered from the Libyan army in 1992 because he was nuts... , the Libya Dawn commander from Misrata, and former deputy interior minister Khaled Sharif have both gone on TV to deny the claims. Speaking on Al-Nabaa TV, which strongly supports Dawn, Badi said he was in Aziziya but also said said that his forces were kicking the LNA out of the town. Gunfire could be heard in the background while he was speaking by phone to the channel. For his part, Sharif, said to be a member of the Moslem Brüderbund, likewise insisted that the LNA's claims were false and that life was normal in Tripoli. However, ars longa, vita brevis... it was possible that there were some LNA sleeper cells in and around the capital, he conceded, adding that some LNA fighters had been incarcerated Don't shoot, coppers! I'm comin' out! Pro-Dawn media meanwhile claim that although LNA forces attempted to move towards Tripoli this morning, they were beaten back and that LD forces are now within nine kilometres from Wattiya airbase. Zintani commander Abubakr Al-Ejami, in charge of the unit holding Saif Al-Islam Qadaffy, has added to the confusion with a claim this afternoon that LNA forces are within striking distance of Tripoli International Airport and that they will enter the capital within two days. In the city itself, Libya Dawn checkpoints appear to have vanished, although this could be connected to the fact that it is Friday. However, ars longa, vita brevis... a Libya Dawn convoy, allegedly Misratan, was seen on the Tripoli Highway this afternoon heading towards Misrata. The city is very quiet at the moment although occasional distant heavy artillery fire can be heard. Despite claims last night that the LNA would enter Zawia, there appears to have been no such move. However, ars longa, vita brevis... there are reports of festivities in the town between the Farouq Brigade, which is part of Libya Dawn, and local youths allegedly supporting Operation Dignity. Meanwhile a statement from Ghariyan elders is said to be expected this evening. There are unconfirmed reports that the mountain town is now surrounded by LNA forces. |
| Posted by:Fred |