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| Africa North |
| Benghazi Bomb and Bullet Bulletin |
| 2016-11-18 |
| LNA claims progress in Benghazi’s Ganfouda and Gwarsha Benghazi, 17 November 2016: The Libyan National Army (LNA) says it made progress yesterday in the battle in south Benghazi’s Ganfouda and Gwarsha districts and now fully controls Tripoli Road separating them, having destroyed all the militants’ checkpoints along it. It also says that 12 Sudanese nationals being held by the militants as human shields in Ganfouda managed to escape. However, it also says that that there are still 180 foreign workers of various nationalities held prisoner in the district. According to a spokesman for Saiqa Special Forces, the 12 Sudanese managed to escape under cover of darkness during the night and make their way to LNA lines. As well as being used as human shields, the Sudanese reported that they and others were forced to work for the rebels, transporting arms and equipment for them. The LNA also says that it discovered a field hospital used by the militants with lists of names of those who were treated there and a bomb-making factory at one of the farms in Gwarsha. Claiming that the militants were now fully surrounded with their supplies cut off, the LNA added that yesterday it bought in a mine flail machine from Ajdabiya to make a safe path into Ganfouda which has been extensively mined by the militants. Many LNA fighters have been blown up by mines. Four more were reported killed yesterday, although the exact circumstances have not been disclosed. Yesterday also saw continued air strikes against the rebel positions in both districts. The LNA later said that several militants’ bodies were lying in Ganfouda and that they had removed one of them. Celebrations in Benghazi after LNA announce capture of Gwarsha Benghazi, 17 November 2016: People took to the streets in Benghazi this afternoon celebrating the liberation of the city’s Gwarsha district from militants after the commander of the Libya National Army’s Operation Dignity announced that it had finally been taken. The LNA also announced that it had moved forwards deep into Ganfouda from the east and now controlled the customs warehouse where it found the bodies of 15 militants. Today’s fighting unfolded first the capture of the European hospital in Gwarsha but then turned into something of a rout. It involved ground, air and, off Ganfouda, sea power by the LNA. There was also an air strike on militants in the Suq Al-Hout in the city centre which an LNA official said hit the intended target, with a truck being seen to remove bodies afterwards. The clashes were reported as being “very violent” near Ganfouda’s residential area beside the customs warehouse, where the militants tried to use suicide drivers to hold off the LNA. In one attack against the Zawia Martyrs’ Brigade at the customs warehouse, a tank crew from 204 Brigade died when the suicide vehicle exploded. Earlier, Akram Bukhamada, the son of Saiqa commander Wanis Bukhamada posted a note on social media saying that another attack on the Zawia Martyrs’ Brigade at the warehouse failed. It is not known if it was the same tank. There was at least one other attempted suicide attack. Altogether though, it is reported that 15 LNA soldiers were killed in today’s actions and 43 wounded. Among those who died was an LNA field commander, named as Hatem Al-Mismari, killed in a landmine explosion in Gwarsha. There are no official figures of the militants’ casualties other than the 15 bodies found in Ganfouda. Two militants were discovered hiding in Gwarsha and surrendered to the LNA. Commenting on the Ganfouda advance, the LNA’s spokesman, Colonel Ahmed Mismari said that civilians in the area had not been harmed. However, all efforts would now be concentrated on the liberation of the district and families still there should try to head towards LNA lines. Responding to the developments, Benghazi Medical Centre issued an appeal to all its doctors to go to its emergency department. Fighting this evening in Ganfouda was reported to be very heavy as the trapped militants tired to defend their last stronghold. |
| Posted by:badanov |